DraftStars AFL: Suns and Saints Clash Under the Marvel Roof

Thursday night footy heads to Docklands as St Kilda and the Gold Coast Suns do battle under the closed roof. Fast deck conditions and rapid transition footy should make for a fantasy feast, with both midfields eager to assert clearance dominance.

Here’s where our AI model is finding the biggest statistical edges for your DraftStars builds.

The AI Core Picks

• Matt Rowell (MID | Proj: 122.4): Featured in all 10 optimal builds, Rowell is the undisputed engine room captain. His ferocious tackling, clearance extraction, and elite contested work give him an astronomically high floor and genuine slate-breaking ceiling.
• Bodhi Uwland (DEF | Proj: 93.4): A unanimous 10/10 selection. Uwland has developed into an intercept and rebound machine across half-back, racking up uncontested marks and kick-ins that consistently pad the stat sheet.
• Joel Jeffrey (FWD | Proj: 70.2): Another perfect 10/10 inclusion. Jeffrey provides clean link-up play between the arcs and lethal finishing inside 50, offering steady forward scoring via marks and scoreboard impact.
• Cooper Sharman (FWD | Proj: 61.3): Appearing in 9 of 10 builds, Sharman is St Kilda’s go-to aerial target. His strong contested marking and reliable set-shot conversion make him a key staple in forward lines.
• Jarrod Witts (RUC | Proj: 65.8): Featured in 90% of lineups, the veteran big man’s sheer hitout volume guarantees first use for his midfielders, cementing him as the model's preferred ruck pillar.

Position-by-Position Cheat Sheet

• Defenders (DEF): Build around Bodhi Uwland as your foundation, with John Noble (103.5 proj) providing lightning-quick run-and-carry upside.
• Midfielders (MID): Matt Rowell is a non-negotiable anchor, while Saints bolter Max Hall (109.9 proj) offers massive disposal ceiling on the fast Marvel turf.
• Rucks (RUC): Jarrod Witts owns the ruck battle in optimal builds, though Rowan Marshall (97.2 proj) remains a lethal single-lineup pivot.
• Forwards (FWD): Lock in the two-pronged attack of Joel Jeffrey and Cooper Sharman for reliable scoring output.

Check out the AI’s Top 10 optimal DraftStars lineups below to see how to piece these studs together!