We get Round 9 of the 2024 AFL Premiership Season underway this Thursday night with a monster clash between Carlton and Melbourne at the MCG. Melbourne are sitting on the edge of the top four right now and will be looking to solidify their spot in the top half of the finals. Carlton will be looking to make amends for last weeks heartbreaking loss to the Collingwood and they are right now sitting in exactly 8th so this is certainly a must win for both teams.
Draftstars continue to offer massive prize pools with the Wednesday night main being worth $60,000 along with their usual variety of alternate contests:
- AFL $60,000+ Blues vs Demons
- AFL $5,000+ Blues vs Demons High Roller ($150 Entry)
- AFL $2,000+ Blues vs Demons Fiver
- AFL $3,000+ Blues vs Demons Mini ($2 Entry)
The AFL Star contest is back for 2024 and Draftstars are offering the biggest prize pool in Australian DFS history with a $1 million guaranteed final with $250,000 top prize! There are qualifiers and satellites running for every AFL match, while there will also be a sprinkling of qualifiers across other sports such as NRL and NBA.
Meanwhile the 1000 AFL Target contests are set to return to Draftstars for the first time since 2018. Enter the contest and hit the 1000-point barrier with your team to scoop the jackpot!
Betting Markets
Carlton ($2.03) vs Melbourne ($1.78)
Points: 165.5
Line: Melbourne -2.5
If you’re looking to bet on the AFL this season, then you can bet with PlayUp by using the same account that you have at Draftstars. PlayUp are Australian owned and offer an strong range of AFL betting markets and offers, including Same Game Multis.
Additionally, we have a full Carlton vs Melbourne Betting Preview for the game where we provide our best bet for the game as well as a great value Same Game Multi!
Weather
19 degrees and cloudy, no real chance of rain. Perfect football conditions. Let’s play some fantasy.
Where to Attack?
Melbourne have continued their trend of conceding points to backs and attacking defenders this season. They typically like to play an extra man behind the ball and this will leave opportunity for Carlton’s defenders and wings who get back to rack up uncontested possessions. This year they have up over 5 points per game above league average to general defenders and over 7 points per game above to wingers and attacking defenders.
On the flip side, Melbourne are one of the toughest defences in the league so I will be looking to play the Demons forward line by process of elimination given it is a two team slate.
Game Script – Carlton backs and wings, Melbourne forwards
VALUE PLAYS
Elijah Hollands ($9,180) has been pushing up onto the wings regularly for the Blues as both a winger and in that high half forward role. This has resulted in back-to-back 72+ fantasy point games, which would be more than enough return at this price point in this single game slate. He has also flashed 100+ point upside earlier in the season.
Bayley Fritsch ($8,590) should light up the score board in this matchup if Melbourne are to win the game. I will be fading the Blues big forwards as Melbourne have quality opponents to lock them up, while Fritsch should avoid the Blues top key backs and will likely have his way with some of their medium to small defenders. Last year he racked up 18 touches and kicked 2 goals for 88 fantasy points against Carlton in his first game, then returned another 68 point fantasy game in their final.
MID PRICED PLAYS
Tom Sparrow ($10,350) every week Melbourne seem to be in a single game slate, and every week we seem to go back to Tom Sparrow. He offers a very good floor with his role through the midfield, playing in around 40-60% of the Demons centre bounces and has only two scored under 74 once from his last six games.
Ladbrokes are offering $2.30 for Tom Sparrow to rack up 80+ fantasy points, which looks like great value in this matchup.
PREMIUM PLAYS
Blake Acres ($14,060) could be a nice point of difference premium in this matchup now that his price has gone up over the $14k mark. He's having a career year this season averaging over 92 points per game and posting three games of 100+ fantasy points from his last four. As noted above, this should be an elite matchup for him with Melbourne giving up points to players who play on the wing and drift back into defence, which is exactly where Blake does his best work for the Blues.
Clayton Oliver ($15,050) looked back to his best form last week against the Cats posting 106 fantasy points and 31 disposals. Melbourne will need a lot of juice from their midfield brigade this week if they're to get over the top given how strong the Blues have been in the contested and inside play this year.
Suggested Draftstars Lineup
Cheat Sheet
