NEED some quick advice before stocking up on players in your Draftstars line-up? You've come to the right place. Here's the round eight cheat sheet. For more information, visit draftstars.com.au.
West Coast v Western Bulldogs, Friday night, Domain Stadium
The Eagles have had a good couple of weeks, and their best players are dominating. Luke Shuey (MID, $15,450) is their leading scorer for the season, and last week brought in 118 points in West Coast's win over Port Adelaide. His average of 116 places him among the elite in the competition.
Elliot Yeo (MID/FWD, $15,050) is appealing as a player who can swing between dual positions. His 124-point score last week was the fifth time in seven games this season he has surpassed 100. Sam Mitchell (MID, $13,450) is yet to set the world on fire for the Eagles and with an average of 89, there are better options around him.
It's hard to go past Luke Dahlhaus (FWD/MID, $14,500) or Marcus Bontempelli (MID, $14,850) when weighing up your A-grader pick from the Bulldogs. But Lachie Hunter (MID, $13,850) might be ready to explode. He gathered 131 points last week, is averaging 94 for the year, and is rarely chosen compared to the other two Dogs.
Tom Boyd (FWD/RK, $8550) lifted last week with 95 points as he spends more time in the ruck, but he has averaged just 55 for the season, so be careful if tempted.
Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions, Saturday, University of Tasmania Stadium
In the salary mode of Draftstars, each coach has to pick nine players – two forwards, four midfielders, two defenders and a ruck – using the $100,000 cap. In previous years we might have loaded up on Hawthorn players for this game, but it's hard to know what the Hawks are going to produce this year.
Last week the good Hawks turned up, but to be fair, the good Tom Mitchell (MID, $16,950) has turned up every week. He's averaged 125 for the season – a monumental start to his Hawthorn career. Ben McEvoy (RK, $14,100) has hit strong form in recent weeks – averaging 118 in the past three games – while Jarryd Roughead (FWD, $12,550) had a season-best 107 points last week.
Brisbane Lions midfielder Tom Rockliff (MID, $17,250) leapt to the top of the points leaderboard after his 167-point score last week against Sydney. The perennial Draftstars performer is back to his best scoring ways after a down year in 2016.
Marco Paparone (DEF, $11,750) came into the Lions' outfit and scored 106 last week for his first game of the year, while Dayne Zorko (MID, $14,750) and Stef Martin (RK, $14,150) continue to be more than solid choices if you're looking for high-scoring Lions to fill your team.
St Kilda v Carlton, Saturday, Etihad Stadium
We hope you took our advice last week that Jack Billings (MID, $12,200) was a man to watch. The talented Saint picked up 116 points in his side's win over Greater Western Sydney – a team-high total – and it should be a good confidence boost for him.
Jack Steven (MID, $14,700) was his busy best and hasn't missed a beat since returning from injury, while Blake Acres (MID, $11,600) is worth a look as well. His average keeps building – it's now at 86 –after his maiden ton of 2017 last week. Jack Sinclair (FWD/MID, $12,600) is another young Saint worth watching –he has averaged 94 in two games this year.
Nine Carlton players scored 90 or more last week against Collingwood, so the Blues are playing good team footy. Beyond the regular, obvious candidates from the Blues, it's worth considering Nick Graham (MID, $13,550) given his cheaper price. He can be inconsistent, but has averaged 96 in two games this season.
Matthew Kreuzer (RK, $12,050) is a popular ruck choice among Draftstars coaches, and Sam Petrevski-Seton (MID, $10,000) followed through with another good showing on the way to 93 points. He's a jet, but plenty will be picking him.
Greater Western Sydney v Collingwood, Saturday, Spotless Stadium
Not much went right for Greater Western Sydney last week, but the return of Stephen Coniglio (MID, $14,450) was a positive. In his first game of the season Coniglio scored 115 points in the Giants' loss to St Kilda.
Josh Kelly (MID, $13,600) picked up another triple-figure score – his fourth of the year – and continues to impress. Can Lachie Whitfield (MID, $10,100) produce a good score in his return to the top level? We hear he's raring to go.
The Pies weren't any better against Carlton last week, so it looms as a 'who responds best?' showdown. Taylor Adams (MID, $16,450) is the Magpie you would bank on at this point, but he doesn't come cheap.
Steele Sidebottom (MID, $14,100) was well down on his 98-point average last week with just 65 points, so will hopefully hit back. Jordan De Goey (FWD/MID, $9200) could be one to keep on the watch-list, though, after his 60-point effort in his first game of the year. That will rise.
Essendon v Geelong, MCG, Saturday night
After a slow start to his season, returning Bomber Michael Hurley (DEF, $11,900) has hit his straps in recent weeks. The defender has averaged 100 in the past three rounds, and shapes as a valuable choice for your backline group.
Zach Merrett (MID, $16,350) was the only Bomber to hit triple figures in their loss to Fremantle last week, but Cale Hooker (DEF/FWD, $9750) exceeded his average of 67 points to post a score of 94 – his best of the season. Joe Daniher (FWD, $11,650) also kept up his excellent Draftstars season with 91 points.
Mitch Duncan (MID, $15,900) is the premium midfielder you should consider from Geelong right now. His 128-point effort was the best of the Cats last week, and was his sixth score surpassing triple figures for the year (the other was 95 against Melbourne in round three).
Zach Tuohy (DEF, $14,000) has been a solid pick-up for the Cats with an average of 97 for the season, including 100 points last week. Daniel Menzel (FWD, $9400) has averaged 73 points at a reasonable price if you're looking for a final forward.
Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval, Saturday night
The Crows' first loss of the season couldn’t dent Matt Crouch’s (MID, $14,400) good form, as the Adelaide midfielder gathered a team-high 116 points against North Melbourne. Rory Laird (DEF, $14,700), Sam Jacobs (RK, $14,700) and Richard Douglas (FWD/MID, $12,250) also performed well, while Daniel Talia (DEF, $8050) nearly doubled his average when he scored 91.
It would be risky to choose Talia this week given the lowly nature of most of his scores this season. We’re sorry if you selected Rory Sloane (MID, $16,600) on the back of our advice last week. His 65-point score broke a five-game run where he had scored at least 132. Hopefully he bounces back this week, but we understand if your faith is shaken.
Cameron Pedersen (FWD/RK, $12,800) continues to give his all in the ruck for Melbourne, despite being undersized. He picked up 97 points last week for an average of 97.5 in his two games for the Dees. If you’re looking for a rare ruckman choice, he should be in your thinking.
Jack Viney (MID, $13,200) pieced together his best game of the season last week with 145 points against Hawthorn, and his co-captain Nathan Jones (MID, $13,650) collected 123 points. Jayden Hunt (FWD, $10,950) is a nice choice out of defence, too, with an average of 84.
Richmond v Fremantle, MCG, Sunday
For those of us who have loved the work of Toby Nankervis (FWD/RK, $12,400) so far this season, we can breathe a sigh of relief. He's back! The Richmond ruckman, carrying an average of 91 this season, has served his suspension and is ready to lead your Draftstars ruck division.
Shaun Grigg (MID, $13,250) was the only Tiger to hit triple figures in last week's tight loss to the Western Bulldogs. Pleasingly, recruit Josh Caddy (MID, $10,700) put in a much better showing with 88 points – up from his 69-point average – while Alex Rance (DEF, $9550) also played well in defence with 82 points. Both are risky choices given scoring inconsistencies, but are in solid form.
Bradley Hill (MID, $12,950) was outstanding last week against Essendon. He gathered a mammoth 159 points to boost his average to 97, and he's in almost career-best form. Strongly consider him, because he knows the expanses of the MCG well.
Connor Blakely (MID, $11,950) is a young Docker going under the radar and is worth some thought. He can tag, but that often takes him to the ball, too. At the moment Nat Fyfe (MID, $13,150) isn't worth his price tag – he hasn't hit 100 since round three. Look elsewhere for your premium pick.
Gold Coast v Port Adelaide, Shanghai, Sunday
Who will sizzle under the Shanghai sun? It's hard to know how the conditions will affect this one, so we're going to play it safe with our selections from this game and go with form.
Aaron Hall (MID, $14,050) has that in spades. The gifted Sun gathered 156 points last week against Geelong, but can be prone to a shocker. We're backing him to bring in consecutive big scores. Jarrod Witts (RK, $10,950) was very good in the ruck last week with 121 points, and Tom Lynch's (FWD, $12,700) average of 88 for a power forward is more than handy.
Witts will come up against Port Adelaide's Paddy Ryder (FWD/RK, $13,450) in the ruck and he, too, is coming into the game in hot touch. Ryder scored 131 points last week, bettered only by teammate Chad Wingard (FWD, $12,950), who tallied 132.
Charlie Dixon (FWD, $12,050) is one to watch against his old side. The key forward scored 124 points last week – about 40 above his average. Can he back it up? He has always been a hard player to take in fantasy because of his inconsistencies, but the talent is there. Look for Ollie Wines (MID, $12,450) to hit back as well after just 68 points last round.
North Melbourne v Sydney, Etihad Stadium, Sunday
We've been excited about Mason Wood (FWD/MID, $15,300) for some time, and last week he showed why with his 127-point effort in North's big win over the previously unbeaten Adelaide. Can he back it up? Wood has averaged 91 points in three games and has a big bag of tricks.
He wasn't the only Roo to rack it up against the Crows, with eight North players scoring 90 or above. One of those was Trent Dumont (MID, $10,900), who continues to show his wares as a good value midfielder with an average of 81. Ben Cunnington (MID, $12,300) was also sensational with 112 points.
The Swans finally clicked into gear thanks to Lance Franklin (FWD, $12,950), whose eight-goal and 133-point game steered Sydney to a win. Dan Hannebery (MID, $14,100) also finally showed his best form with 115 points, and Isaac Heeney (FWD, $12,600) compiled a classy 102 points.
Harry Cunningham (FWD/MID, $9800) shot to 98 points, a lift from his 67 average, but the one to look for is Zak Jones (MID/DEF, $11,800). The hard-running and tough half-back picked up 101 points and has averaged 94 the previous three weeks. If you're not thinking about him, you should be.
