Derby Day DFS Crushers: Eagles vs Dockers DraftStars Preview

The Western Derby rivalry reignites this Sunday at Perth Stadium as the West Coast Eagles clash with the Fremantle Dockers. Bragging rights in WA are always fierce, and with both sides looking to make an early-season statement in 2026, expect a bruising, high-intensity contest. For daily fantasy managers, this derby is an absolute goldmine of contested ball and heavy tackling.

Our FootyBets.ai algorithm has crunched the numbers. Here are the heavy hitters dominating our optimal builds:

Luke Jackson (RUC) Locked into 100% of our optimal builds with a massive 117.8 projected points. Expect Jackson to completely dominate the ruck battle, racking up hitouts while acting as an extra midfielder to pad his stats with clearances, tackles, and big contested marks around the ground.

Caleb Serong (MID) You simply can't overlook Serong in a high-stakes derby. He thrives in the clinches, meaning his DFS floor is incredibly safe thanks to an elite combination of high-volume inside disposals and relentless tackling pressure.

Tom McCarthy (MID) Appearing in every single top lineup, the Eagles ball-magnet is projected for a massive 84.8 points. His scoring is driven by his elite work rate at stoppages and his ability to rack up uncontested possessions linking play on the outside.

Milan Murdock (FWD) & Bo Allan (MID) These two young Eagles are showing up in 90% of our generated lineups. Murdock offers fantastic forward-line upside with his ferocious forward-half tackling and goal-sense, while Allan is primed to sweep up plenty of crucial link-up disposals and intercept marks.

Position-by-Position Quick Tips

• RUC: Don't overthink it—Luke Jackson is the undisputed king of the slate.
• DEF: Look to Liam Duggan to anchor your backline; his premium rebound 50s and kick-ins are fantasy gold.
• MID: Build your core around Serong and McCarthy, but slot in Corey Wagner as a high-upside point of difference.
• FWD: Murdock is the reliable staple, but Shai Bolton offers that match-winning ceiling if he kicks a big bag of goals.

Ready to take out the prize pool? Scroll down to see FootyBets.ai’s top 10 optimal lineups for this Sunday blockbuster!