FootyBets.aiDraftStars Preview: Crows and Blues Clash Under Thursday Night Lights
Thursday night footy heads to Adelaide Oval as the Crows look to defend their home turf against Carlton in this prime-time April 2026 blockbuster. Expect a fierce, high-disposal midfield battle and a tight contest that will provide absolute fantasy gold for your DraftStars squads.
Our FootyBets.ai simulation has crunched the numbers. Here are the core players dominating the optimal builds:
- Sam Walsh (CARL - MID): Appearing in 100% of our top lineups with a massive 104.7 projected score, Walsh is the ultimate disposal magnet. His elite running capacity guarantees plenty of uncontested marks and link-up touches on the outside.
- Lachlan McAndrew (ADEL - RUC): A lock in every single optimal lineup. McAndrew (90.9 projected points) is set to dominate the hit-outs while chipping in around the ground with crucial clearances and follow-up tackles.
- Jake Soligo (ADEL - MID): Another 10/10 staple. Soligo is an absolute workhorse in the guts. He loves the contested ball and will pad his score heavily through stoppage clearances and a high tackle count.
- Adam Cerra (CARL - MID): Landing in 80% of top builds, Cerra brings class on the outside. Expect him to rack up uncontested marks, drive the ball inside 50, and easily push toward his 90.5 point projection.
- Talor Byrne (CARL - FWD): Featuring in 9 of our top 10 lineups, Byrne is the key forward-line connector today. He’ll hit the scoreboard and lay vital pressure tackles inside the attacking arc.
Position-by-Position Quick Tips
RUC: Don't overthink it. Lock in Lachlan McAndrew. He is the undisputed top dog in the ruck contests for this matchup. DEF: Target the rebounding sweepers. Nic Newman (CARL) brings a massive ceiling with his kick-ins and intercept marks, while young Crows Max Michalanney and Luke Nankervis are super reliable to hit their baselines. MID: Stack the engine room. While Walsh and Cerra are Carlton's prime movers, make sure you sprinkle in Adelaide’s Sam Berry (87.7 proj) who can break a slate open with double-digit tackle numbers. FWD: It’s a tough line to navigate, but pairing Talor Byrne with the high half-forward work rate of Adelaide's Alex Neal-Bullen is the smartest way to bank guaranteed touches and goals.
Ready to dominate the slate? Check out FootyBets.ai’s Top 10 optimal DraftStars lineups for tonight's clash below!