FootyBets.aiDraftStars Dominance: Why the Roos are Ready to Feast on the Bombers
Saturday footy returns to Docklands on March 28, 2026, with Essendon squaring off against North Melbourne in a clash that screams daily fantasy upside. With the fast track under the roof, expect a high-possession, fast-paced game with plenty of scoring opportunities. If our FootyBets.ai models are anything to go by, this slate is shaping up to be an absolute fantasy feast for the boys from Arden Street.
Here are the key possession magnets our AI is locking into optimal lineups:
Jy Simpkin (MID) Appearing in every single one of our top 10 builds, Simpkin is a lock. He’s projected to nudge the 100-point mark by getting his hands dirty at the coalface. Expect a healthy mix of clearances, inside 50s, and a mountain of tackles to pad his DraftStars total.
Luke McDonald (DEF) Another 100% exposure player, McDonald is the ultimate safety blanket across the half-back line. He’s projected for a rock-solid 74 points, built on a foundation of play-on disposals, uncontested intercept marks, and driving the ball out of the defensive arc.
George Wardlaw (MID) The hard-nut midfielder features in 90% of our optimal builds. Wardlaw thrives in the clinches, and his projected 91 points will come from contested ball-winning, huge tackle numbers, and bursts from the stoppage.
Harry Sheezel (MID) While he might only appear in 6 of the 10 lineups, Sheezel boasts the highest projection of the slate at a massive 124.5 points. He simply finds the pill at will. Whether he's racking up uncontested marks on the outside or delivering lace-out passes, his ceiling is slate-breaking.
Position-by-Position Quick Tips
- DEF: Lock in Luke McDonald for safe distribution and cheap marks. If you want a point-of-difference, Charlie Comben offers intercept upside.
- MID: Stack the Roos! Simpkin and Wardlaw are your high-exposure core, but make sure you have shares of Sheezel and Luke Davies-Uniacke for that 100+ point ceiling.
- RUC: Tristan Xerri is a monster in the middle, racking up hit-outs and follow-up clearances. If you need an Essendon pivot, Peter Wright provides an alternative route to points.
- FWD: Target the mid-forward rotation with Tom Powell, or look to Paul Curtis to hit the scoreboard and lay crucial tackles inside 50.
Let the AI do the heavy lifting—check out FootyBets.ai’s Top 10 optimal DraftStars lineups for this match below!