Red & Black Blitz: Essendon vs Swans MCG DraftStars Preview

Sunday afternoon footy at the MCG delivers a mouth-watering clash as Essendon hosts the Sydney Swans. With plenty on the line and open space to burn, expect high-tempo ball movement and massive fantasy scoring across the park.

Our FootyBets.ai model has crunched the numbers for this standalone blockbuster—here are the core plays dominating the optimal builds.

The AI Core Targets

Zach Merrett (Essendon, MID – Proj: 111.2 pts) The Bombers skipper is an undeniable lock, featuring in 100% of optimal builds. Merrett thrives on the MCG expanses, consistently finding 30+ disposals, pumping inside 50s, and applying relentless tackle pressure. Lock him in as your captain or top-end anchor.

Nate Caddy (Essendon, FWD – Proj: 62.2 pts) Also appearing in all 10 optimal lineups, Caddy provides crucial forward utility. His aerial prowess, ability to take contested grabs inside 50, and genuine scoreboard punch give him a reliable scoring floor with multiple-goal upside.

Archie Roberts (Essendon, DEF – Proj: 96.7 pts) Roberts has become a fantasy juggernaut off half-back, landing in 9 of 10 builds. With Sydney's forward press likely forcing high kick-mark totals, Roberts will feast on rebound-50s, uncontested marks, and plus-six fantasy kicks.

Chad Warner (Sydney, MID – Proj: 99.7 pts) The Swans' explosive midfield weapon appears in 70% of lineups. Warner's burst away from stoppages, elite clearance work, and knack for hitting the scoreboard make him Sydney’s highest-ceiling option on the big stage.

Dyson Sharp & Will Setterfield (Essendon, MIDs) Both grunt midfielders feature in 8 of 10 lineups. Their contested work and tackle counts ensure high floors, soaking up inside midfield minutes and doing the dirty work at the coalface.

Position-by-Position Quick Tips

• DEF: Archie Roberts and Andrew McGrath are your primary stacking targets—expect heavy transition ball from Essendon's backline.
• MID: Build your engine room around Zach Merrett and Chad Warner, backed up by the tackling grunt of Dyson Sharp.
• RUC: Peter Wright gets the nod in 60% of builds thanks to his dual threat in ruck contests and aerial marking deep in attack.
• FWD: Nate Caddy is virtually non-negotiable for forward structure, with Archie Perkins offering strong secondary support.

Ready to build your winning DFS roster? Scroll down to check out the AI-generated Top 10 optimal DraftStars lineups for this MCG showdown!