THERE are two rounds of the home and away season left but plenty of opportunities to win in Draftstars.
Here is the cheat sheet you need for this weekend's matches, with players you should be eyeing and some you might want to avoid. For more information, visit draftstars.com.au.
West Coast v Hawthorn, Domain Stadium, Friday night
Luke Shuey (MID, $14,800) was phenomenal last week with 142 points in the Eagles' last-gasp win over Greater Western Sydney, taking his average to 99 for the year.
The only other Eagle to pass the triple-figure barrier was Nic Naitanui (RK, $13,350), who kicked the match-winning goal in the dying seconds. Naitanui is a risky proposition for Draftstars coaches given his injuries this year, but he scored 110 last week and has averaged 87 points in 14 games this year. He could be a weapon come September.
The Hawks have star players who are obvious Draftstar candidates every week. But the skill is identifying who will push up to score well beyond their average in any given week. Isaac Smith (MID, $13,750) did that last round, bringing in 146 points against North Melbourne, while Luke Hodge (MID, $14,000) responded to some criticism of his form with 113 points.
The wide spaces of Domain Stadium might suit Hawks' running pair Bradley Hill (MID, $10,650) and Billy Hartung (MID, $10,950) on Friday night. Hill scored 99 points last week, keeping his average at 88 points over the past five weeks.
North Melbourne v Sydney Swans, Blundstone Arena, Saturday
It was all about Lance Franklin (FWD, $14,050) last week, as the Sydney Swans superstar kicked six goals from 28 disposals and pulled in 139 Draftstars points. It was his top score for the season and lifted his average to 98 points for the past five weeks. He looks primed for a big assault on the finals, and he looms as a good choice this week.
The Swans' other key contenders for your Draftstars line-up are obvious: Luke Parker (MID, $16,300), Dan Hannebery (MID, $16,500) and Josh Kennedy (MID, $15,850) all scored triple figures last week.
A lesser light worth considering is Callum Mills (MID, $10,050), who has starred in his debut season and scored 94 points last week. He's a NAB AFL Rising Star favourite for a reason.
North Melbourne had three players exceed the 100-point mark last week, with skipper Andrew Swallow (MID, $12,500) leading the way with 127 points. Todd Goldstein (RK, $15,200) had a poor round last week with just 73 points but we back him to better that this round against the Swans, while Ben Cunnington (MID, $11,850) was also down on his regular performances with just 65 points last game against Hawthorn. Expect both to bounce back.
Richmond v St Kilda, MCG, Saturday
Dustin Martin (FWD/MID, $15,900) could barely have been better for Draftstars coaches this year. Not only has he given Tigers supporters a reason to watch, the star midfielder just keeps dominating the fantasy landscape.
Last week the Brownlow Medal fancy picked up 132 points – the 12th time in his last 15 games he has surpassed the 100-point mark.
Get Martin into your team as your marquee (and most pricey) player. For cheaper Tiger options, Oleg Markov (FWD, $8900) collected 89 points last week and has had a solid start to his career, while Taylor Hunt (DEF, $10,300) has averaged 80 the last five weeks.
The Saints were poor last week against the Sydney Swans, but we hope you took our advice on bringing in St Kilda youngster Blake Acres (MID, $9800). The midfielder gathered 99 points against the Swans to take his rolling average to 90 over the past three weeks. He is coming good.
St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt (FWD, $15,600) racked up his third ton in his past four games last week and remains a legitimate A-Grade Draftstars option, while others worth considering for the Saints include underrated pair Seb Ross (MID, $14,600) and David Armitage (MID, $12,800).
Greater Western Sydney v Fremantle, Spotless Stadium, Saturday
Watch the Giants run riot here, so that's why we're going to play this one in turbo format. The turbo contest in Draftstars sees participants needing to pick six players to fill their squad – one each from six different tiers.
In tier one in the Giants and Dockers single game turbo contest, we're going to take Giants defender Heath Shaw (DEF, $16,200). The All Australian has averaged 100 across the season but lowered his colours last week with just 73 points. Watch him bounce back on Saturday.
Tom Scully (MID, $14,250) joins our turbo line-up as the tier two player, narrowly edging out teammate Toby Greene (MID/FWD, $13,900), while another Giants midfielder in Josh Kelly (MID, $13,200) is the tier three player we're choosing. Kelly has been exceptional in his third AFL season, averaging 93.
We believe the Giants will win this game by a fair way, and that's why we're grabbing another GWS player as our tier four selection in Devon Smith (FWD, $11,750). Tier five sees the first Docker picked, with Connor Blakely (MID, $10,450) joining our squad, while Fremantle midfielder Tommy Sheridan (DEF, $9600) is the tier six choice.
Port Adelaide v Adelaide, Adelaide Oval, Saturday
The Crows continue to be a boon for Draftstars coaches. They had 10 players score more than 90 last week, which included seven tons. You can bank on their attacking style of play to bring in big scores.
Aside from the high profile stars in Adelaide's forward line and midfield, such as Scott Thompson (MID, $13,700), Rory Sloane (MID, $15,600), Eddie Betts (FWD, $11,650) and Josh Jenkins (FWD, $12,050), there are other Crows who have taken the fantasy world by storm this year.
Tom Lynch (FWD, $13,850) averages 92 points a week and Jarryd Lyons (FWD/MID, $12,500) is having a career-best year with an average of 90. Last week Lyons scored 103 points.
Port has been a frustrating team all season and that continued last week against Melbourne. Ollie Wines (MID, $14,800) showed why he is probably the only Power midfielder you can really trust with another score of 107, while Sam Gray (MID/FWD, $12,450) picked up 113 points to take his average to 86 for the year.
Collingwood v Gold Coast, Etihad Stadium, Saturday
There's not a whole lot riding on this game for these sides, but there can be for Draftstars coaches. The Pies have a couple of in-form scorers worth considering, too.
Adam Treloar (MID, $16,650) couldn't have done any more in his first season as a Magpie and almost willed Collingwood over the line against the Western Bulldogs last week. His 128-point score was the 13th time this year he has reached triple figures.
Brodie Grundy (RK, $14,450) was also exceptional, while James Aish (DEF/MID, $9500) has lifted his form to average 93 over the past three weeks. That's top notch. And while we're at it, if the last few weeks of the season are about looking ahead, then pencil in Rupert Wills (MID, $11,300) as a Draftstars possibility next year. The first-season Pie has averaged 90 points in the first three weeks of his career.
Gold Coast youngster Touk Miller (MID/FWD, $11,350) pulled out the best score of his season last week against Essendon with 139 points, but don't expect that again. He has averaged 79 this season so it would be unlikely he'd repeat that effort on Saturday.
Aaron Hall (FWD/MID, $15,300) was back to his best scoring days for the Suns last week, while key forward Peter Wright (FWD, $9550) offers your forward line a different option at a cheaper cost.
Carlton v Melbourne, MCG, Sunday
Melbourne has to win this game to keep alive its finals hopes so we're tipping a big effort from the Dees.
It seems likely to start in the midfield, where Max Gawn (RK, $15,300) has been dominating proceedings in the ruck. Gawn is expensive but you can almost lock him in for 100 every week. Last week he picked up 120 points, so he is a genuine match-winner.
The McDonald brothers – Tom (DEF, $11,450) and Oscar (DEF, $8200) – celebrated new contracts with scores in the 90s last week but don't bring them in expecting the same this week. They average 76 and 58 respectively.
Jack Watts (FWD/MID, $12,050), Bernie Vince (MID, $14,300), Dom Tyson (MID, $13,550) and Nathan Jones (MID, $14,200) are the Demons you should really consider spending your money on.
The Blues have run out of steam on the field and in the Draftstars competition, too. There's only a handful of Blues we'd look at grabbing for the rest of the year: Ed Curnow (MID, $14,600), Kade Simpson (DEF, $14,650), Bryce Gibbs (MID, $15,900) and Sam Docherty (DEF, $15,150).
Brisbane Lions v Geelong, Gabba, Sunday
This is another contest we expect to be a blowout as the Cats chase percentage, but there are some high-scoring Lions players worth considering in the turbo format of Draftstars.
The first choice is a 'gimme' in this turbo game and it has to be Patrick Dangerfield (MID, $17,400). He's just too good to pass up as your tier one option. His Cats teammate Corey Enright (DEF, $13,550) is in stunning form given his age and his average of 90 points a week gets him a run as the second tier pick.
Brisbane Lions ruckman Stefan Martin (RK, $12,100) essentially plays as an extra midfielder so we're going with him in tier three, while Geelong youngster Sam Menegola's (MID, $11,050) first season has seen him average 87 and he gets the gig in tier four.
Young Lion Rhys Mathieson (MID, $9500) has impressed in his early days at the club and has the best average (69 points) of anyone in tier five, while Scott Selwood (MID, $9150) is a good choice in tier six as he continues his return from that long layoff with an ankle injury.
Essendon v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium, Sunday
Surely the Western Bulldogs will put a clamp on Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis (MID, $13,700), who gathered 40 disposals and 136 points last week after avoiding a tag from Gold Coast.
Four of his five games before that he had failed to reach 70 points, so it would be risky choosing him this week with extra attention expected. Pick Zach Merrett (FWD/MID, $16,700) with confidence, though – he has averaged a massive 116 points a game this year and turned himself into an elite midfielder.
Retiring midfielder Adam Cooney (FWD, $12,700) will be keen to finish off well against his former side and has been in strong form (averaging 95 the past five weeks), while Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (FWD/DEF, $10,200) is also good value and has shown he can pick up a handy 80 points.
Josh Dunkley (MID, $10,400) is another youngster performing well and last week picked up 109 points in the Dogs' win over Collingwood. He offers some strong and consistent scoring for a forward/midfielder mid-pricer.
But for the Dogs hard to go past Marcus Bontempelli (MID, $14,300) – who scored a brilliant 137 last week – and others such as Luke Dahlhaus (FWD/MID, $14,350), Lachie Hunter (MID, $15,050) and Matthew Boyd (DEF, $15,400).