FootyBets.aiDees vs Dons DraftStars Domination: Your Gather Round Cheat Sheet
The footy festival hits Adelaide Oval this Saturday as Essendon and Melbourne lock horns in a high-stakes blockbuster. With both midfields boasting serious firepower and a fast deck expected, this clash is shaping up to be an absolute fantasy goldmine. Expect a bruising contest in the guts and plenty of outside run, making it a perfect storm for DraftStars coaches looking to stack up the stats.
Our FootyBets.ai simulator has crunched the numbers, and a clear core of players has emerged. Here’s why these heavy hitters are dominating our optimal builds:
- Max Gawn (RUC, Melbourne): Our AI is locking in Big Max in 100% of optimal lineups. Projected for a massive 117.1 points, he’s set to absolutely feast on the Bombers' ruck division. Expect a mountain of hit-outs to advantage, intercept marks behind the footy, and his trademark around-the-ground disposals.
- Jordan Ridley (DEF, Essendon): Also appearing in every single build, Ridley is projected for a rock-solid 79.8 points. As the general of the Dons' backline, he’s going to rack up a ton of +6s (uncontested mark and kick combos) orchestrating the rebound against Melbourne's forward entries.
- Jack Steele (MID, Melbourne): The midfield bull features in 9 out of 10 lineups. Projected for a commanding 108.4 points, Steele’s elite tackle numbers provide a massive fantasy floor, while his ability to win the contested footy means the disposals will flow all night.
- Thomas Edwards (FWD, Essendon): Showing up in 90% of lineups, Edwards is a fantastic forward-line structure piece. Projected for 59.1 points, his high work rate inside 50 makes him a prime candidate to hit the scoreboard and gather those crucial forward-half pressure tackles.
- Kysaiah Pickett (MID, Melbourne): Now boasting MID status and featuring in 8 out of 10 builds, Kozzy is projected for a spicy 98.9 points. He will use his elite burst from stoppages to rack up inside 50s, snap goals, and lay bone-crunching tackles.
Position-by-Position Quick Tips
- RUC: Don't overthink it—lock in Max Gawn. The ceiling is simply unmatched in this matchup.
- DEF: Jordan Ridley is your safe accumulator, but consider pairing him with Christian Salem for lethal half-back distribution points.
- MID: Jack Steele is the anchor, but sprinkle in the likes of Koltyn Tholstrup or Ed Langdon to capture Melbourne's outside run.
- FWD: Thomas Edwards provides the optimal build structure, but Melbourne's Brody Mihocek is a savvy pivot to capture those leading marks inside 50.
Ready to take out the top prize? Scroll down to see FootyBets.ai’s top 10 optimal DraftStars lineups for this blockbuster clash!