We are one month past release so I thought I would throw together the standard review. As always feel free to comment, I have no doubt that some of the suggestions posted from the last few releases have impacted the next release.
FOLDERS
Same design as last year but different colouring. The folders are very basic and nice and clean looking. Pages are obviously cheaper ones but do the job for a base set and some low end subsets. For $25 (cheaper from dealers) you can't really argue with the folder, plenty of pages, album card and two packets. Thank god they stopped gluing the packets to the folders!!!
MILESTONES
I really applaud the concept of having a bonus card only available in starters. The cards themselves are fine, very shiny which makes them a touch cheaper in my opinion. I really liked the design of the Milestones from the 2014 release, they should have gone with that. Design aside the biggest let down with these is they should be in some sort of protective slip and there should be more than three in the set. Just like the JT and Smith box cards from 2016 Elite they needed to increases the number in this set to at least six players.
BASE SET
Nothing fancy in these as you would expect from a Traders release. Perhaps some more stats on the back and would love to see the common subsets make a return! The rear of the AFL cards contain a plethora of stats which is fantastic in comparison.
PARALLELS
Sensational! One of the best if not best parallel sets I have seen released. Nice clean images, different to the base sets and the real winner is the reflective image of the player in the background. I don't usually collect parallels but put together a set of these ones because they look that good!
FACES OF THE GAME
The only downside to these is the moving of the signature panel to the side. If the players signed this panel then they look great but not all players do and with the reluctance of some players to sign cards these days you get what you are given! I am not an IP collector however I get one of the very decent members from this site to get the Raiders ones done for me and they are an excellent addition to the PC.
PIECES OF THE PUZZLE
While they feel like a common card I still like this set being included as the puzzles when completed look very effective in a folder. These are only 1:6 and a large set to complete so no point changing the design to significantly, keep these rolling on!
SEASON TO REMEMBER
Great to see these back, was really disappointed when they removed them from 16 Traders. The look a bit like the Elite base from last year but I like how they have focused on individual players who had sensational seasons. The cards feel good in hand and a completed set looks good in the folder as it proves a nice contrast to the other subsets.
CLUB HEROES
Essentially the club player of the year cards from the old Select days. I don't mind these as the selected players are generally some of the better players at each. I like that the cards highlight each clubs different awards and the foil board finish makes them not a bad card to look at.
STARTOONS
These are quite cool. I like the acetate finish on the regular version and the different style on the album version. Obviously aimed at our younger collectors but I am sure most of the ólder' collectors enjoy these two. A good change up from the cyber heroes, good to see the centre card still included so the set fits in two sleeves.
PLAYMAKERS
Great concept but really let down by the dull matte finish. I think these should have been at least 1:72 or 1:108 and jazzed up a bit. The backs should have included the relevant playmakijg stats.
RETIREMENTS
Always a nice looking card, generally a few top players. The biggest let down for these was the 2013 Traders where they were 1:9 packets instead of 1:72. I still believe that this has kept the price down drastically on these. The images and club the card is given to are sometimes a bit puzzling. For rep players like Creagh his card should have had a St George, Country and NSW image. The card should go to the club where they played the bulk of the footy. In some cases like Mick Ennis where he only played two seasons for the Sharks but was a major cog and won a premiership with them I have no issues with both of the major clubs getting a logo on the card.
SAS BLACK / GOLD / AUTHENTIC
I didn't mind these last year but this years cards are a significant improvement. The complete foil finish and green signature on last years blacks made them look cheap, they have nailed the design this year on all levels and the player selection is very good. Another Oates signature on the back of his jersey signature was a bit of an oversight but I suppose you need to consider player availability and also that ESP are offside with a few other talent agencies. Getting Cronk to sign was epic and I am very happy with a Leilua
PREDICTORS
The cards themselves look okay, the numbering is odd and the redemption process even more so! For a higher end card of this nature there should be more than 20 gold parallels sets available for those who manage to put together a set. My theory is that the 20 gold parallels sets were not even an option and they would just run with the winning team until there was a bit of an uproar among collectors. There is no shame in allowing for more than 20 sets to be redeemed and will keep value in the cards. What happens when the season is done and dusted, hundreds of overpriced, numbered club logo cards! In saying all this I am glad that the predictors have made a comeback but they should have stuck with what has previously worked.
LEGENDS SIGNATURES
Always a great looking card, player selection this year leaves much to be desired. Don't get me wrong, Tallis & Buderus are fabulous players and definitely legends but compared to Johns, Raper, Coote, Lewis, Sterlo they are just not in that class. It seemed initially that all players selected were from the CORL top 100 until Menzies last year. This was the way to go and on top of that both Newcastle and Brisbane have had legends. Why not Meninga or Clyde? Why not Jnr Pearce or Terry Lamb? I could go on forever!
DYNAMIC DUOS
Slightly plain given how limited and hard to get these are but I like the concept. The players selection doesn't have to be the elite players but needed to be 'duos'. The Raiders had their halves - tick, Cooper and Lowe generally play on opposite edges and seldom combine. The point was raised that the Dogs and Cows already had duos in 2015 and I initially thought that they were included again so the design across a few releases was the same but this obviously isn't the case. I really can't answer why the Dogs and Cows got another before teams like the Eels, Warriors, Titans, Storm and Knights.
CASE CARDS
I have never had an issue with these as they have remained consistent in theme and do have different info to the legends signatures. Great to see these numbered for the first time and the amount limited.
OVERALL
Good release, improvements from last year and an enjoyable product to bust and collect. The value for money is okay given the amount of high end cards available so I will give it a solid 7.8/10
