Thursday Night Footy DFS: Dockers and Hawks Clash Out West

Prime-time Thursday night footy heads to Perth Stadium as Fremantle hosts Hawthorn in a blockbuster clash to kick off the round. Both sides boast high-ceiling fantasy ball-magnets and rebounding weapons, making this a cracking single-game slate for DraftStars coaches. Expect a fierce contest at the coalface that will translate to massive DFS scores.

Our FootyBets.ai model has crunched the numbers, and a clear core has emerged. Here are the heavy hitters anchoring our optimal builds:

• Lloyd Meek (Hawthorn): A 100% lock in our top lineups. The big Hawk is taking the lion's share of ruck duties and should feast on hit-outs while laying his typical bruising tackles around the ground against his former side.
• Corey Wagner (Fremantle): Also appearing in every optimal lineup, Wagner is perfectly positioned to rack up cheap uncontested marks and rebound disposals as the Dockers look to transition the footy.
• Caleb Serong & Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle): You simply can't ignore this two-headed midfield monster. Both are projected to push the 100-point barrier, hoovering up clearances, contested touches, and tackles in the engine room.
• Shai Bolton (Fremantle): The dynamic forward provides immense upside. When he gets off the chain, his lethal mix of forward-half pressure, score involvements, and highlight-reel goals can break a slate wide open.

Position-by-Position Quick Tips

• RUC: Set and forget with Lloyd Meek. He's a reliable tackling ruckman who provides a rock-solid floor.
• DEF: The AI loves a Hawthorn defensive stack. Look to Blake Hardwick and Josh Weddle to rack up intercept marks and rebounding drive.
• MID: Lock in the Dockers' premium ball-winners. Serong and Brayshaw are your clearance kings, while Hawk Conor Nash is a great point-of-difference for tackling volume.
• FWD: Pair Shai Bolton’s explosive goal-scoring ceiling with the relentless work rate and tackling pressure of Hawk Dylan Moore.

Ready to take out the prize pool? Scroll down to see the FootyBets.ai Top 10 optimal lineups for tonight's clash!