Are Your Old Footy Cards Worth Anything?
Maybe. Most cards in an old shoebox are common and worth a few dollars at best — but the same box can hide a rare vintage card or a signed rookie worth hundreds. Five things decide it: the maker and age, the player, the condition, scarcity and numbering, and whether it's signed. Here's how to check in a few minutes, without being an expert.
Are old footy cards actually worth money?
It's the most common question collectors get asked, and the honest answer is: a few are, most aren't. Footy cards were printed in huge numbers, so the typical card from a 1990s or 2000s pack is worth a couple of dollars. But scarcity, star players, signatures and pristine condition can turn one card in the box into something genuinely valuable — and you only find out by checking.
The good news is that the cards most likely to be worth money are also the easiest to spot once you know the signs: anything that looks genuinely old, anything with a number printed on it, and anything signed. Everything else is usually a common — nice to keep, but not a payday.
So don't bin the shoebox, and don't assume it's a goldmine either. Sort it, find the handful of cards worth a second look, and check those properly.
The 5 things that make old footy cards valuable
Run each card through these five factors. The cards that tick several are the ones worth checking carefully.
- Maker and age: in AFL, Scanlens (1963–1987) is the foundational vintage name, followed by Stimorol and Regina; Select has made AFL cards since 1993. In NRL, Scanlens is the key vintage maker. Older, pre-1990 cards are the genuinely scarce ones.
- Player: legends and big-name stars are worth far more than squad players.
- Condition: sharp corners, clean surface and good centring matter — creases, whitening and trimming kill value.
- Scarcity and numbering: a serial number on the card (like 23/199) means it's a limited parallel and usually worth more than an unnumbered base card.
- Signatures: a printed, on-card autograph — not a pen mark on a base card — can be the most valuable feature of all, especially on a rookie.
A quick checklist: could your shoebox have a gem?
Pull aside any card that matches one of these — they're the most likely to be worth real money:
- Anything that looks pre-1990, especially Scanlens cards.
- Cards with a serial number printed on them (e.g. /299, /99, /25).
- Signature or "signed" cards, and patch/relic cards with a piece of jumper embedded.
- Rookie or first-year cards of players who became stars.
- Cards in near-perfect condition — sharp corners, no creases, well centred.
How do I check what my footy cards are worth?
Here's the fast part. Photograph the front of a card and CardLoft identifies the set, number and any parallel, then estimates its value from recent sold prices — in about ten seconds. Work through your shortlisted cards one by one and you'll quickly see which are worth keeping, grading or trading. It's free, and you don't need to know a single set name to start.
For the best match, fill the frame with the card, shoot it straight and front-on, and use even light so the player name, set and any serial number are clearly readable.
Once you've got a value, the decision is simple. Cards worth keeping go into sleeves; cards worth real money — usually the old, signed or numbered ones — are worth getting valued carefully and, in a few cases, graded; and the rest are great for trading, gifting to a young collector, or simply enjoying. You don't have to do anything drastic, but it's nice to know which is which.
Where to next?
Once you know roughly what you've got, the code-specific guides go deeper on the sets, chase cards and players that matter. The AFL card value guide covers Select's Footy Stars and premium lines, the vintage Scanlens era and the record-setting cards; the NRL card value guide does the same for rugby league, including the 2026 switch back to Select. The Australian sports card hub ties AFL, NRL and cricket together.
And when you're ready to sell or swap, read the safe trading guide first — old cards attract fakes and scams, and the safest trades happen inside groups of people you actually know. Whatever you do, keep the cards you're keeping in sleeves and out of direct sunlight, and never tape, trim or write on a card, which destroys its value in an instant.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a footy card is rare?
Look for three signs: age (pre-1990, especially Scanlens), a serial number printed on the card (like 12/99), and a signature or embedded jumper patch. A card with several of these is far more likely to be valuable than a standard base card.
Are my 1990s footy cards worth anything?
Usually only a few dollars each, because they were mass-produced — but star players in top condition, early inserts, and signed or numbered cards can be worth much more. Check the specific cards rather than assuming the whole era is valuable.
What should I do with an old footy card collection?
Sort it, set aside anything old, signed, numbered or in mint condition, and value those with a photo check. Keep cards in sleeves, handle them by the edges, and read up on safe trading before selling, since old cards attract fakes and scams.