Round 1 of the 2022 AFL Premiership Season continues on Friday night at 7:50pm AEDT with a clash between two proud Victorian clubs, St Kilda and Collingwood. Draftstars have again put up huge money with $100k up for grabs in the main contest and a wide variety of other options leading into the weekend.

  • AFL $100,000+ Saints vs Magpies at Draftstars
  • AFL $10,000+ Saints vs Magpies High Roller ($150 Entry) at Draftstars
  • AFL $5,000+ Saints vs Magpies Fiver at Draftstars 
  • AFL $10,000+ Saints vs Magpies Mini ($2 Entry) at Draftstars

 

In addition to previews for each and every slate this season, Daily Fantasy Rankings will continue with our AFL Resources page. This section provides you all the data you need to build your best line-ups. It includes daily cheat sheets for Draftstars, Player Correlation tables, Player Out tables, Scores Against tables, Tagging information, statistical breakdowns and much more!

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS OUR CHEAT SHEET FOR SAINTS VS PIES

AFL Cheat Sheet Saints Pies

St Kilda vs Collingwood at Marvel Stadium (STK -7.5, 159.5)

Weather

No issues here as the Marvel Stadium roof will be in play.

Where to Attack?

As with all Round 1 matches, we have a choice here between reading into 2021 trends, predicting how those trends may change this season or taking all our data from a single pre-season game (not advised). In reality, it is probably best to consider all three aspects.

Collingwood gave up a truckload of possessions last year as they pushed a game style based around uncontested football. This was reflected in the points they gave up to defenders, although the Magpies improved late in the year in this regard after the departure of Nathan Buckley. St Kilda didn’t play an overly high possession brand but there could still be ball up for grabs down back.

 

As a cellar dwelling team, Collingwood also conceded a high number of points to forwards. I don’t foresee the Pies shooting up the ladder this season and St Kilda should win tonight so Saints forwards are a solid play.

 

St Kilda conceded the fourth most points to rucks in 2021, opposition big men scoring well around the ground as opposed to cleaning up in the hitouts. This should suit Brodie Grundy perfectly, however Rowan Marshall is a class player and I can justify selecting both in DFS tonight.

 

Game Script - St Kilda backs, forwards

VALUE PLAYS

Josh Battle ($7,410)

St Kilda’s swing man Josh Battle is generously priced tonight and can be picked in both the back and forward lines. Historically, Battle has averaged around 60 points but crucially he has a high ceiling, pushing the ton on numerous occasions. As such, he’s great value here.

Patrick Lipinski ($8,410)

Lipinski has overcome a pre-season injury scare to be fit for a Round 1 Collingwood debut. Moving across from the Bulldogs, the aerobic machine has been promised more midfield time at his new club and racked the ball up when given a more prominent role at the Dogs. He can accumulate impressively and hits the scoreboard regularly.

MID-PRICE PLAY

Nick Daicos ($10,200)

Daicos finally gets his chance to shine on the big stage on Friday night as one of the prized picks of the 2021 draft. The Pies have shown throughout pre-season that they are willing to give Daicos ample responsibility on field in his first season, trusting him with kick out duties down back and time in the midfield. His role as a ‘user’ is appealing to me, and likely many DFS players.

PREMIUM PLAYS

Jack Crisp ($15,160)

Crisp is a player who makes you feel safe as a DFS coach. He is dependable and durable, going about his business with little fuss or fanfare. We can once again expect Crisp to rotate between the midfield and back line, likely more of the former to begin this campaign, which puts him in good stead to rack up the points.

Jack Steele ($19,670)

Selecting a player with a price of nearly $20k in Round 1 may be anxiety inducing for some, but Steele is a safe man to invest in. The hard nosed contested mid had a breakout season in 2021, averaging 121 points to rank himself amongst the elite of the game. Looking to 2022, there is no reason for him to go backwards.

Suggested Draftstars Team

 

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