WE HAVE reached the do-or-die stages of the season but it has always been pretty cutthroat in the Draftstars arena. Here's AFL.com.au's fantasy cheat sheet for this weekend's semi-finals.
Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs, semi-final, MCG, Friday night
This week Draftstars is giving away a $10,000 cash prize for the 'salary' contest of the Hawks v Bulldogs semi-final. That means if your nine-man side featuring players from these two teams outscores everyone else you'll claim a very nice September bonus. Some players you should consider choosing are below:
Hawthorn
Sam Mitchell (MID, $13,600): It is hard to go past Mitchell as one of your first players picked. He has averaged 30 disposals and seven score involvements this season, and would be odds-on to reach his average of 100 this week. Last week he found 97 points against the Cats.
Isaac Smith (MID, $12,950): Don't let Smith's after-the-siren miss change your view on how he'll go this week. Smith finished last week with 91 points and in his past four matches against the Bulldogs he has averaged 27 disposals and four inside-50s, so he likes running amok against the Dogs.
Jordan Lewis (MID, $14,750): Lewis was the highest-scoring player in week one of the finals, amassing a huge 153 points against the Cats. His 36-disposal and 11-mark effort was brilliant, and he's a big game performer. It was the 13th time in his past 14 games he has reached triple figures. Amazing.
And another thing… We said last week that Shaun Burgoyne (DEF, $11,600) brings finals experience and he didn't let us down. Just another lazy 109 points for the premiership champ.
Western Bulldogs
Luke Dahlhaus (FWD/MID, $13,550): The star Dog was outstanding last week with 132 points in a brilliant showing. He lifted under the pressure and equaled the best score of his season. It was only his second ton since coming back from injury in round 19 though so keep that in mind but he can be picked in two areas of the ground.
Caleb Daniel (FWD, $10,900): Daniel didn't let the finals spotlight affect him last week. The NAB AFL Rising Star runner-up was close to best afield, collecting 33 disposals and 108 points. He comes at a cheaper price than the real premium midfielders, too, so has that in his favour.
Jack Macrae (MID, $14,300): Macrae returned from a hamstring injury last week and gathered 77 points in a solid display. But he's averaged 97 for the season for a reason. And in his past four games against the Hawks, the Dogs midfielder has averaged 24 disposals and four tackles.
And another thing… Tom Boyd (FWD, $8000) has copped some flak across the year but was very good last week with 80 points. Nevertheless we think it would still be a risk to pick him this week against that Hawthorn defence.
Sydney Swans v Adelaide Crows, semi-final, SCG, Saturday night
Playing this game in turbo mode is the way to go. In the turbo form of Draftstars, coaches need to select six players – one from six different 'tiers'. There is no salary cap, but simply categorised groups of players from which you must select six. This week Draftstars is giving away $15,000 on the Swans v Crows turbo match, and it's free to enter. Here's how our side would look:
Tier one: Dan Hannebery (MID, $15,600) Hannebery has averaged 31 disposals, 14 contested disposals and five inside-50s a game this year, making him an elite option. That's not to mention his 108-point average in the Draftstars arena. He should be a lock in tier one.
Tier two: Scott Thompson (MID, $12,950) In his past five matches against the Swans, Thompson has averaged 23 disposals and five clearances. He just gets the job done every week and is a standout option in tier two after his 101-point showing in last week's elimination final.
Tier three: Matt Crouch (MID, $12,350) Like Thompson, Crouch also scored 101 points in last week's win over North Melbourne. Crouch has been a revelation this year (his third in the AFL system), and it was his sixth ton in his past seven games. Get him in your line-up.
Tier four: Jarryd Lyons (FWD/MID, $11,800) It's been a career-best year for Lyons, who has helped fill the midfield hole left by Patrick Dangerfield. Lyons was the leading scorer in the Crows' elimination final with 111 points (which included 23 disposals and nine tackles). He has averaged 90 for the year.
Tier five: Dane Rampe (DEF, $10,100) Rampe is a slight risk but so are the other players around him in tier five. His average is only 69, but last week he was solid with 82 points. The week before that, in round 23, he gathered 93 points so is in some good scoring form.
Tier six: Toby Nankervis (RK/FWD, $9600) Nankervis hasn't played for the Swans' senior side since round 21 so this is a slightly risky pick, but he comes in to replace the injured Kurt Tippett. He has averaged 68 points but the last time he played he scored 86.
