The Future of AFL Card Collecting

After yesterday's Legacy news and a big 2024 from Select, I went to bed last night thinking about what the future looks like, specifically regarding many of our PCs.

Over the past 12 months I've seen some cards that sit proudly in my PC be slashed in value. Dustin Martin Showstopper for one comes to mind, a card numbered to 40 that would have commanded up to $1000 a year or so ago, sat on eBay for months at $599 and ended up selling for what I assume was much less. A similar card, Dustin Martin Gold Brilliance /35 - when released would have been one of the most sought after cards, commanding up to $2000 upon release - now with this years' Brilliance release it feels like it has at least halved in value.

Where do we see our PCs going in value? Obviously collecting isn't an investment exercise for any of us on here, but regardless it would be sad to see cards we have spent good $ on be diluted by consistent big releases.

For the size of our market, is it becoming over saturated and compounded by inflationary pressures

After coming back just before Legacy last year I've been mostly just quietly observing, and to me the outlook is grim.

Accessibility is a big problem. Majority of people now rely on buying directly through Select, who have a two tier system. Anyone new joining the hobby or coming back from a layoff immediately run into the first hurdle that is SCC, a club that is only open for a window at the start of the year, and from what I gather, an almost job application like process.

Then you turn to card stores, which is basically a fools errand. Most stores that get stock (those listed by Select) either don't list it on their site, possibly offering up on Facebook, or simply sit on it for themselves to break. Then you'll see them offer up leftovers packaged with Footy stars.

So basically you have to set aside time to be at your computer for the public sale.

Then of course there's all the anecdotal stories of people having their orders cancelled with no rhyme or reason, while multitudes of listings go up on ebay by flippers before the product is launched.

Then there's the release cycle I've observed; the anticipation for info, the excitement at all these big hits and valuable cards, and then the inevitable disappointment because they got junk for $1000.

It doesn't seem like a whole lost of fun to me. I might be less bitter if there was a series 2 of old, something more accessible to the public, a base set, some sophisticated inserts, and a DPS, to offset the more juvenile Footy Stars.

But as it stands it all just looks like a joyless money pit.

If value is the consideration then I think going forward collectors need to be more selective. Focusing on DPS/ rookie cards, Captain Sigs, HOF Sigs. Significant cards that will hold up in value long term. Too many run-of-the-mill short print cards ie Influential, Show stopper, Marquee etc that to me are just inserts with no significance that 10-15 years down the track won’t be sought after.