Best AFL Rookie Cards to Watch in 2026
The 2026 Select AFL Footy Stars set — released 31 March 2026 with 270 base cards — is the first product to feature the Class of 2025. These are the debut cards that matter most: if any of these players become stars, their 2026 Footy Stars cards will be the ones collectors chase for years. Here's who to watch and what to pull aside.
Why do AFL debut-year cards matter?
A player's first Select AFL card is their rookie card — there will never be another one. If that player develops into an elite performer, the supply of their debut-year cards is permanently fixed while demand grows. Nick Daicos's 2022 Optimum and Footy Stars cards are worth what they are because he became a Brownlow medallist; the collectors who held them from 2022 benefited from that fixed supply.
Not every draft pick becomes a star, which means chasing rookie cards always involves some speculation. The way to manage that risk is to focus on the highest-drafted, most hyped players — they have both the highest chance of breaking through and the strongest demand from their club's collector base even if their ceiling is uncertain.
What 2026 Footy Stars sets are worth chasing for rookies?
The 2026 Footy Stars set released on 31 March 2026 with a 270-card base set. The key rookie-focused insert is the Next Gen subset — 90 cards numbered to 99, seeded at roughly 1 per 18 hobby packs. A low-numbered Next Gen card of a player who becomes a star is exactly the kind of card that holds value. The Rising Star Predictor Signature cards (numbered to 60) are the premium end: they combine a serial number, an autograph and a narrative hook — the card becomes more valuable if the player wins the award.
Below those are the numbered base parallels. Even a standard hobby parallel with a print run of /850 or /315 is a step above the common base cards for resale purposes, though it takes genuine stardom for any of them to be worth serious money. The common base card — unnumbered, printed in bulk — is worth only a few dollars regardless of the player, unless they go on to become elite.
Which 2025 draft picks should I watch in 2026?
Here are the players most likely to become star AFL cards — ranked by current collector interest and early-season performance in 2026:
Jagga Smith — Carlton Blues (Pick 3, 2024 draft)
Smith was drafted in 2024 but missed his debut season through ACL injury, making 2026 his true first year. That delayed debut combined with Carlton's massive supporter base has built significant anticipation. His first game saw him record 27 disposals, and he is the current Rising Star favourite at $2.25 with betting markets. A dominant season would make his 2026 debut cards — not 2025, which has no cards — the reference point for his career.
Carlton's card market is strong: the Blues' large supporter base translates to real demand. Any Jagga Smith Next Gen /99 or base numbered parallel is worth holding if he continues his early form.
Willem Duursma — West Coast Eagles (Pick 1, 2025 draft)
The number-one overall pick in the 2025 draft, Duursma is described as a "freakish athlete" who was averaging 17 disposals in his early 2026 games. Rising Star markets have him at $3.00. West Coast collectors are hungry for a young star after a difficult few years for the club, which amplifies demand beyond pure on-field merit.
As the top pick from a draft class, Duursma's 2026 cards will always carry that distinction. His Next Gen /99 is the key insert to chase.
Sam Grlj — Richmond Tigers (Pick 8, 2025 draft)
Described as the "best athlete in the draft pool" — a livewire halfback with pace and skills. Pick 8 suggests genuine top-end talent, and Richmond has one of the strongest collector communities in the country. A breakout year at Punt Road would drive significant demand for 2026 Grlj cards.
Zeke Uwland — Gold Coast Suns (Pick 2, 2025 draft)
The second overall pick — a strong-left-foot wing or half-back from the Gold Coast academy. Top-2 draft picks almost always have significant rookie-card collector interest. Gold Coast has a smaller collector base than Victorian clubs, which somewhat dampens the premium, but the draft position keeps him firmly in the watch list.
Harry Dean — Carlton Blues (Pick 3, 2025 draft)
A father-son selection (father is Nathan Dean) who was rated as the earliest top-3 draft-picked key defender since Harry Weitering. Carlton's collector market is strong, and a reliable tall defender on a successful Carlton team tends to develop a dedicated collector following. Worth watching if the Blues feature in finals.
Other 2025 draftees worth tracking
A few more names to know from the 2025 draft class now in the 2026 Footy Stars set:
- Jacob Farrow (Essendon, Pick 10): top-10 pick, versatile wing with a strong left foot.
- Sam Cumming (Richmond, Pick 7): rated a "perfect modern midfielder" — injury delayed his early games but Tigers fans are watching.
- Cooper Duff-Tytler (West Coast, Pick 4): described as a "unicorn" tall with elite athleticism.
- Lachy Dovaston (North Melbourne, Pick 16): rated the best small forward in the draft; North fans are card-hungry for young talent.
- Dyson Sharp (Essendon, Pick 13): "ready-made" midfielder who projects as a reliable accumulator.
- Dylan Patterson (Gold Coast, Pick 5): another top-5 pick worth following if the Suns improve.
What makes a club's cards more collectable?
Club supporter base matters enormously in the AFL card market. Collingwood, Carlton, Richmond, Essendon and Hawthorn have the largest, most active collector communities — which means more demand, faster-moving singles markets and higher ceilings for star players from those clubs. A top-5 pick at Collingwood will attract more collector interest than an equivalent pick at a smaller-market club, all else equal.
That's not to say players from Gold Coast, Western Bulldogs or North Melbourne can't develop strong card markets — it just takes more consistent elite performance to build the same level of demand.
How do I check what a 2026 rookie card is worth?
For a set released as recently as March 2026, the secondary market is still forming and prices can move quickly — particularly if a player has a standout game or wins a weekly award. Check eBay Australia's completed (sold) listings for the specific card and tier; asking prices on active listings are often aspirational and don't reflect what cards actually clear for.
CardLoft identifies 2026 Footy Stars cards from a photo and pulls current Australian sold data — useful for checking what a specific rookie parallel is worth before you buy or decide what to keep.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AFL rookie card to buy in 2026?
The highest upside cards are debut-year numbered inserts of the top 2025 draft picks now in the 2026 Footy Stars set — particularly Jagga Smith (Carlton, Pick 3 from 2024), Willem Duursma (West Coast, Pick 1 2025) and Sam Grlj (Richmond, Pick 8 2025). The Next Gen subset (/99) is the key insert tier. No rookie card is a guaranteed investment — only buy what you're happy to hold.
When did 2026 AFL Footy Stars come out?
The 2026 Select AFL Footy Stars set was released on 31 March 2026 and is on shelves now. Retail packs are $13.99 at Kmart, Target, 7-Eleven and newsagents; hobby boxes are $250 through specialist card retailers.
Are AFL rookie cards a good investment?
Some become very valuable if the player becomes elite — Nick Daicos's 2022 rookie cards are a recent example. Most don't. Treat rookie cards as speculative and only buy what you're comfortable holding even if the player doesn't break through. Numbered, low-print-run inserts of top-5 picks give the best combination of scarcity and upside.
What is the Next Gen subset in 2026 Footy Stars?
Next Gen is a hobby-exclusive insert in the 2026 Select AFL Footy Stars set, featuring 90 cards numbered to 99. It's the primary rookie-focused insert tier in the set — the cards most collectors pull aside for emerging young players.