Lions–Crows Semi Final: Dawson Leads the DraftStars Core

Brisbane and Adelaide meet at the Gabba in a Semi Final with plenty of DraftStars scoring routes. Our model's top 10 builds lean on a concentrated midfield core, with a mix of Brisbane ball-winners and Adelaide's premier accumulator.

The Core Plays

Jordan Dawson is the standout: selected in all 10 lineups and projected for 118.1 points. His disposal-winning role, marking involvement and tackling work give him multiple paths to a ceiling score.

Dayne Zorko appears in seven builds at a 106.9-point projection. Listed in defence, his ability to accumulate possessions and marks makes him one of the strongest ways to chase premium output outside the midfield slots.

Levi Ashcroft is another 10-from-10 selection. His 75.8-point projection may sit below the headline names, but his reliable midfield involvement helps the optimizer balance the full nine-player build.

Darcy Wilmot features seven times with a 76.6-point projection, offering another defender whose scoring can be driven by possessions, marks and transition play. Darcy Fort locks down the ruck spot in every lineup, giving the builds a clear source of hitout scoring.

Position-by-Position Targets

• RUC: Darcy Fort is the model's unanimous ruck selection.
• DEF: Dayne Zorko carries the ceiling, with Darcy Wilmot the other recurring target.
• MID: Jordan Dawson is the priority; Levi Ashcroft supplies lineup balance, while Lachie Neale remains a high-upside alternative.
• FWD: Josh Rachele owns the best projection among the commonly selected forwards, with Eric Hipwood and Charlie Cameron providing Brisbane exposure.

The top 10 AI-optimized lineups below show how those anchors combine across the full DraftStars build.