FootyBets.aiSunday Sizzle: Cracking the DraftStars Code for AFL Round 2
Round 2 closes out with a juicy two-game Sunday slate that is ripe for the picking. We’ve got West Coast hosting North Melbourne over in the west, before Port Adelaide and Essendon lock horns for a twilight blockbuster at the Adelaide Oval. Expect plenty of inside grunt, fast deck transitions, and massive fantasy ceilings from these four squads.
Our FootyBets.ai optimiser has crunched the numbers, and a clear core of must-have players has emerged for your Sunday builds. Here are the blokes dominating our top projections:
Tristan Xerri (North Melbourne) Big ‘X’ is an absolute lock, appearing in 100% of our optimal builds with a massive 112.2 point projection. He’s a tackling machine for a big man and is primed to absolutely feast on the Eagles' ruck division over in Perth.
Zach Merrett (Essendon) The Essendon skipper is an accumulator of the highest order. Popping up in 9 out of 10 optimal lineups (projected 111.9 pts), expect Merrett to rack up the +6s with uncontested marks and elite ball use under the Adelaide Oval lights.
Jack Watkins (Port Adelaide) & Dyson Sharp (Essendon) The engine absolutely loves these two midfield bulls, featuring them in every single top-10 lineup. Sharp (75.1 pts) is ready to get his hands dirty at the coalface for the Dons, while Watkins (89.9 pts) is projected to find plenty of the Sherrin in a high-involvement role for the Power.
Max Kondogiannis (Essendon) & Ewan Mackinlay (Port Adelaide) Rounding out the 10/10 optimal core are two guys with fantastic fantasy roles. Kondogiannis (70.2 pts) will mop up nicely across half-back for Essendon, while Mackinlay (70.4 pts) provides the forward-half pressure and scoreboard impact that DraftStars coaches dream of.
Positional Quick Tips
- RUC: Don't overthink this one—plug Tristan Xerri in, take the massive projected floor, and throw away the key.
- DEF: Max Kondogiannis is your anchor, but pivot to Kane Farrell’s booming left boot if you want those elite rebound-50 points.
- MID: It’s a star-studded engine room out there today. Pairing Merrett with Port's Zak Butters gives your lineup an immense, slate-breaking ceiling.
- FWD: Jason Horne-Francis brings the explosive centre-bounce attendances (CBAs) you crave in a forward slot. Lock him in alongside Ewan Mackinlay.
Scroll down to peep the Top 10 optimal lineups our FootyBets.ai supercomputer has spit out to help you ship the Sunday slate!