Unusual that newsagents would get them first, as it has traditionally been AFL Stores that have had them first.
They have also been notoriously late with the release and often Round 1 is already underway before the cards hit retail stores. So the online competitions usually commence Rd 2.
I was hopeful that the later start to the season may have meant that the cards would be out earlier, but when their adverts say 'end of March', my money would be on then not being released until exactly then, i.e the week of Monday 30 March.
Maybe this is something else SportsBet could run a market on
IF it's true that newsagents get them 1st then that sucks, I usually buy a case so that means I wouldn't get mine till a week later but we will see I guess there is still no more info regarding prices or anything yet
But of course last year Rd 1 started on 14 March and finished on the 23rd, so the cards didn't hit stores until Rd 2.
Releases before the start of the season has not been TC's strong point up to now, but you never know this year might be different. Hope springs eternal as they say.