2026 AFL Footy Stars: Everything You Need to Know

When did 2026 AFL Footy Stars come out?

The 2026 Select AFL Footy Stars set was officially released on 31 March 2026 — broadly on schedule with the start of the AFL season. Retail packs are available at Kmart, Target, 7-Eleven, BP and newsagents. Hobby boxes are sold through specialist card retailers. The set is actively on-market now and singles are trading on eBay AU.

What does the 2026 Footy Stars base set look like?

The base set runs to 270 cards across all 18 AFL clubs — roughly 15 base cards per club, covering a mix of established stars, younger players and squad members. As with every Footy Stars set, the base cards are unnumbered and printed in bulk, which means most are worth only a few dollars regardless of the player. The exception is a star player's base card in gem-mint condition, which can attract a premium from graders chasing a PSA 10.

The 2026 set includes debut cards for the full 2025 draft class — these are the first Select AFL cards for players like Willem Duursma (West Coast, Pick 1), Zeke Uwland (Gold Coast, Pick 2) and Jagga Smith (Carlton, returning from ACL). The debut base card is worth very little now; a breakout season is what makes it valuable in hindsight.

What are the retail and hobby options?

Retail packs are available at mass merchants — Kmart, Target, 7-Eleven, BP and newsagents — at standard retail pricing. Hobby boxes are $250 per box (18 packs per box), with a total print run of approximately 8,400 hobby boxes. Hobby packs are $13.99 each and are sold exclusively through specialist card retailers such as Cherry Collectables, Gold Coast Trading Cards, Card Bot and Ja Ja's.

The critical distinction: hobby boxes carry the hobby-exclusive insert cards — including the Next Gen /99, Silver Blend Refractor /40 and the Predictor Signature cards — that retail packs do not. If you're chasing the set's most valuable cards, hobby product is the only source. That said, buying singles on eBay AU is almost always more cost-efficient than gambling on a box for specific chase cards.

Which inserts should I chase in 2026 Footy Stars?

The 2026 hobby insert program is more extensive than many recent Footy Stars sets. The key tiers, from most accessible to most scarce:

• Luminous Hobby (/850, 180 cards): the most available numbered hobby parallel — a low-serial-number Luminous of a star player is the entry point for numbered Footy Stars collecting.
• Octane Diecut Gold (/315, 162 cards): a diecut insert with a mid-range print run — more eye-catching than Luminous, slightly scarcer.
• Etched (/145, 180 cards): a distinctive etched finish, lower print run, seeded 1:6 hobby packs.
• Next Gen (/99, 90 cards): the key rookie-focused insert — covers the 2025 draft class, seeded roughly 1:18 hobby packs. Low enough to carry real scarcity.
• Royalty (/99, 90 cards): established stars at the same /99 print run as Next Gen — a premium parallel tier for the set's marquee players.
• Silver Blend Refractor (/40, 45 cards): the headline numbered non-auto insert — very scarce, seeded 1:90 hobby packs. A Daicos Silver Blend #02/40 has already sold for A$498.
• Brownlow Predictor Signature Platinum (/60, 36 cards): an on-card autograph tied to the Brownlow Medal — the award narrative makes these more collectable than a standard signature.
• Rising Star, Coleman Medal and Norm Smith Predictor Signatures (each /60, 18 cards): autographs tied to the season's other major awards — scarce and story-driven.
• Silver Blend Refractor Signature Redemption (/40, 22 cards): the rarest insert in the set — a numbered refractor with an autograph redemption.

What are 2026 Footy Stars cards worth in AUD?

Early market data from eBay AU is already available, anchored by Nick Daicos cards that attract the most trading volume. His 2026 Silver Blend Refractor #02/40 has sold for A$498; the 2026 Brownlow Predictor Signature Gold and the Golden Treasure insert have both traded around A$738–$740. These are ceiling examples — Daicos commands a premium most other players don't reach.

For most base cards, expect a few dollars regardless of the player. Numbered hobby parallels of genuine stars trade in the tens to low hundreds. Next Gen /99 and Royalty /99 cards of top picks like Duursma and Jagga Smith are the speculative rookie play — worth holding if those players break out, worth little otherwise. Brownlow Predictor Signatures carry a narrative premium that can push values significantly higher if the named player wins the award.

Which 2026 Footy Stars cards should I pull aside?

If you're opening packs or sorting a haul, here's the priority order for what to keep:

1. Silver Blend Refractor Signature Redemptions (/40): the rarest pull in the set — redemptions for a star will be significant.
2. Predictor Signature Platinum cards (/60): Brownlow, Rising Star, Coleman Medal, Norm Smith, Premiership — autographs tied to award outcomes.
3. Silver Blend Refractors (/40): the headline numbered non-auto; any Daicos, Bontempelli or top-tier player is a real card.
4. Next Gen (/99) of top 2025 draft picks: the key rookie speculation play — Duursma, Jagga Smith, Grlj.
5. Royalty (/99) of marquee stars: low-enough print run to hold value if the player has a strong season.
6. Any /145 or lower numbered parallel of a Collingwood, Carlton, Richmond or Essendon star: club market amplifies demand.
7. Common base cards: worth a few dollars unless gem-mint and a superstar player.

How does 2026 Footy Stars compare to previous years?

The 2026 hobby insert program is notably deeper than most recent Footy Stars sets — more insert types, lower print runs on the top-end cards, and a Refractor-style insert (Silver Blend) that brings a modern premium feel to a product that has historically been criticised for weaker insert programs relative to international sets. The Predictor Signature concept — autographs tied to award outcomes — is not new to AFL cards, but the execution in 2026 is among the cleaner implementations.

At retail, the experience is essentially unchanged: packs at your servo, base cards covering all clubs, foil inserts seeded at accessible rates. This is intentional — Footy Stars serves both the casual collector and the serious hobbyist through the same product, which is part of why it has run continuously since 1993.

Where do I buy 2026 AFL Footy Stars cards?

Retail packs: Kmart, Target, 7-Eleven, BP and newsagents. Hobby boxes: Cherry Collectables, Gold Coast Trading Cards, Card Bot and Ja Ja's. Singles: eBay Australia (widest selection, buyer protection), Facebook AFL buy/swap/sell groups, OzCardTrader, and card shows including CollectFest, Hobby Hangout XL and Oz National at Marvel Stadium.

The singles market for 2026 Footy Stars is already active — eBay AU completed listings give you the most reliable price signal for any specific card. For rare pulls, check recent sales before listing or buying.

Frequently asked questions