Kardinia Clash: The DraftStars Core To Lock In For Cats vs Lions

It’s a Thursday night blockbuster at GMHBA Stadium as Geelong hosts Brisbane under the Kardinia Park lights. Both powerhouses are desperate for a statement win, making this a high-intensity fantasy battleground on the narrow deck. Expect a physical contest where contested beasts and rebounding defenders will thrive.

Our FootyBets.ai model has crunched the numbers, and these four players are absolute locks, appearing in 100% of our optimal lineups:

• Max Holmes (DEF | Proj: 114.1): The dynamic Cat is a fantasy monster. His blistering run-and-carry off half-back will slice Brisbane apart, translating to massive kick-and-mark tallies.
• Tom Atkins (MID | Proj: 83.3): Kardinia Park was built for Atkins. The hard-nosed midfielder will thrive in the clinches, racking up double-digit tackles and contested possessions.
• Shaun Mannagh (FWD | Proj: 74.1): A creative force inside 50, Mannagh's mix of forward-line pressure, goal-kicking knack, and high-possession link-up play makes him the ultimate forward anchor.
• Darcy Fort (RUC | Proj: 71.3): Set to handle the heavy lifting in the ruck, Fort's hitouts and physical clearance work offer a highly reliable scoring floor.

Position-by-Position Quick Tips

• Ruck: Darcy Fort is the undisputed core play; lock him in and don't overthink it.
• Defender: Pair the high-ceiling Max Holmes with Lawson Humphries (Proj: 91.4) for a Geelong-heavy, high-disposal backline.
• Midfielder: You can't go past Lachie Neale (Proj: 107.4) for sheer volume, but don't sleep on Josh Dunkley (Proj: 102.4) for his tackle-heavy ceiling.
• Forward: Shaun Mannagh is your safe bet, while Cam Rayner (Proj: 64.7) provides explosive, goal-kicking tournament upside.

Scroll down to unlock the full AI-optimised Top 10 lineups and crush your contests this Thursday night!