Nick Daicos Rookie Cards: What Are They Worth?
Nick Daicos is among the most actively traded AFL cards in the Australian hobby. The 2022 Brownlow medallist and Collingwood captain debuted in 2022, and his rookie cards span a wide range — from a few dollars for a Footy Stars common to thousands for a low-numbered Optimum signature. Here's what each tier is worth right now, priced in AUD.
Why are Daicos cards so valuable?
Three things drive his card market: performance, club and supply. Daicos has won the Brownlow Medal, is consistently among the competition's best players and plays for Collingwood — the club with the largest supporter base in Australia. His rookie year was 2022, which means the supply of his true rookie cards is fixed. Any Daicos card from 2022 carries scarcity that his later cards don't: there will never be more of them.
That combination — elite player, biggest club, fixed supply — is why his Optimum and Supremacy 2022 cards sit where they do, and why each new season of Daicos cards attracts strong bidding even for non-rookie issues.
What is Nick Daicos's most valuable card?
The trophy card is the 2022 Select AFL Optimum Draft-Pick Signature in Gold (/85). It is his first-year on-card autograph from the premium hobby set, in the highest numbered tier accessible to most collectors. Card #001 of the Gold run has listed for over A$6,500; PSA 9-graded copies typically trade in the A$3,000–$3,500 range. The lower-serial copies and a PSA 10 will carry a further premium.
Above that sits the Copper parallel (/170), more accessible but still premium: raw copies have settled around A$450, with a PSA 9 pushing A$2,499 and a PSA 10 to around A$3,000. The Platinum tier (under 25 copies) trades too rarely to give a reliable number, but comparable ultra-rare signatures from the same era suggest a floor well above A$5,000.
What is the 2022 Select Optimum base rookie card worth?
The 2022 Select AFL Optimum set is where Daicos's true numbered rookie cards live — not the mass-retail Footy Stars base card. Optimum parallels carry a serial number on the card itself: numbered variants at /455, /110, /95 and similar runs trade raw in the A$60–$100 range depending on the specific number and condition. A PSA 9-graded Optimum base rookie card has reached around A$1,300, reflecting the condition premium buyers pay for a clean, authenticated copy.
The Futures insert subset within Optimum (numbered around /100–/200) trades raw in the A$210–$250 range — higher than standard Optimum base parallels because the Futures tier carries stronger visual appeal and tighter print runs.
What is the 2022 Select Supremacy rookie card worth?
The 2022 Select AFL Supremacy set produced a Daicos rookie card numbered to 75. Raw copies have traded around A$350. Supremacy is a premium hobby-only product with lower overall print runs than Optimum, so supply is genuinely tight and values hold well. As with all raw cards, condition is decisive — a copy with sharp corners and minimal surface marks will clear the A$350 mark; a beaten one won't.
What about 2022 Footy Stars Daicos cards?
The 2022 Select AFL Footy Stars base Nick Daicos card is a mass-market common — printed in large numbers and worth only a few dollars ungraded. However, the Rising Star subset insert (the SRS24 card) is more collectable: raw copies trade in the A$27–$40 range, and a PSA 9 has listed around A$150–$200.
The key distinction to understand: a "Daicos rookie card" specifically means his 2022 numbered cards from Optimum or Supremacy, not the Footy Stars common. If someone is selling a "Nick Daicos 2022 rookie card," check whether it is numbered — if there's no serial number on the card, it is almost certainly the common, worth a few dollars regardless of the player.
What are 2023–2026 Daicos cards worth?
Daicos's non-rookie-year cards continue to attract strong bids for premium inserts. Notable recent sales: a 2023 Select Gem Diamond Signature sold for approximately A$3,130; a 2024 Select Supremacy Superstar Patch Signature booklet card traded around A$4,000; a 2025 Select Eminence Triple Signature Redemption around A$2,900; and a Seamless Dual Patch Signature pairing Daicos with Scott Pendlebury sold for approximately A$5,200.
In 2026, his Footy Stars inserts are already trading — a 2026 Silver Blend Refractor numbered /40 has sold at A$498, while the 2026 Brownlow Predictor Signature Gold and Golden Treasure inserts have both listed around the A$700–$740 range. These non-rookie cards don't have the same long-term ceiling as the 2022 issues, but they track his on-field performance closely: strong seasons lift the market, and poor form or injury tends to soften it.
Which Daicos cards should I pull aside to check?
If you're sorting through a collection with Daicos cards, here's what to look for, from most to least valuable:
- 2022 Select Optimum Draft-Pick Signature (any colour tier — Gold /85 is the top, Copper /170 next): the trophy rookie autograph tier.
- 2022 Select Supremacy Rookie (/75): low-numbered, premium-product rookie.
- 2022 Select Optimum Futures insert (numbered ~100–200): strong mid-tier value.
- 2022 Select Optimum base numbered parallels (/455, /110, /95): genuine rookie cards, accessible price points.
- 2022 Footy Stars Rising Star insert (SRS24): the only worthwhile Footy Stars Daicos card.
- Any graded copy (PSA 9 or 10): grade premium is real — a PSA 9 Optimum base is ten times the raw price.
- 2022 Footy Stars base (unnumbered): common, worth a few dollars — don't overpay.
How do I check what my Daicos card is worth right now?
Values for high-demand cards like Daicos shift with his season performance and recent auction results. The most reliable method is always eBay Australia's completed (sold) listings — search the specific card name and number, filter to sold, and see what the last few copies actually cleared at.
CardLoft identifies AFL cards from a photo and pulls current AUD sold data for Daicos and other Australian players — it's the fastest way to check a specific card against real market prices without hunting through eBay manually.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most valuable Nick Daicos card?
The 2022 Select AFL Optimum Draft-Pick Signature Gold (/85) — his first-year on-card autograph from the premium hobby set. Card #001 of the run has listed above A$6,500; PSA 9 copies typically trade in the A$3,000–$3,500 range.
Is a 2022 Footy Stars Nick Daicos card worth anything?
The base common is only worth a few dollars — it was printed in large numbers. The 2022 Rising Star insert (SRS24) is more collectable at A$27–$40 raw. The genuinely valuable 2022 Daicos cards are from Select Optimum and Supremacy, where they carry a serial number.
How much is a Nick Daicos rookie card worth?
It depends on the specific card. Numbered Optimum base parallels trade raw at A$60–$100; the Supremacy rookie (/75) around A$350; and Optimum signature cards (Copper /170, Gold /85) from A$450 to A$6,500+ depending on the number, grade and tier. Always confirm whether the card is serialised — unnumbered Footy Stars base cards are worth only a few dollars.
Are 2026 Nick Daicos cards worth buying?
Premium 2026 inserts — Silver Blend Refractors, Brownlow Predictors, Supremacy hits — are actively trading in the A$500–$5,000 range for top-tier cards and continue to reflect his on-field standing. They don't carry the same long-term ceiling as the original 2022 rookie cards, but strong seasons lift the market and he remains one of the most-collected AFL players.