AFL
AFL holds a special place in the collectibles universe. Officially, May 17th 1859 was when the history of our Australian Football started. Around the same time, Melbourne (1858) and Geelong (1859) were founded. That makes them two of the oldest continuous sporting clubs in the world. The first game ever recorded took place in Melbourne: Scotch College vs Melbourne. Grammar (1858). Comparatively, the Women’s League had its first game played in February 2017.
Among Australia’s most fervent collectible hobbies, cards stand out as a dominant pursuit. While Pokémon firmly holds its position as the country’s top-selling card game, outpacing Magic: The Gathering, AFL Select is rapidly gaining ground, challenging the popularity of other prominent collections such as Dragon Ball and One Piece. As of October 2025, the most expensive AFL card remains the 2021 Select Supremacy 1000+ Goalkicker Quad Signature, while the rarest card is 1894 N302 Mayo’s Cut Plug Football Dunlop.
AFL is History
We’ve spent months exploring images from the early days of the AFL, revisiting where the game began. It’s been a great journey, but now it’s time to take the next step and dive into the history of every club. This month, we celebrate:
The Carlton Football Club, known as the Blues, stands as one of the most storied and successful institutions in Australian rules football. Founded in 1864, the club helped establish both the Victorian Football Association (VFA) and the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1897.
The early 20th century marked the beginning of their status as a powerhouse, particularly under coach Jack Worrall, who led the team to three premierships between 1906 and 1908.
Throughout the mid-to-late 20th century, Carlton pursued success ruthlessly, winning Grand Finals in dramatic fashion. The club enjoyed golden eras in the 1970s and 80s, producing legendary figures such as Alex Jesaulenko, Stephen Kernahan, and Bruce Doull. With a total of 16 VFL/AFL premierships, Carlton’s history reflects a culture of high expectations.
While the early 21st century brought leaner years and rebuilding phases, the club remains a cornerstone of the AFL, backed by one of the league’s most passionate and loyal fan bases.
The League News
AFL: Five days away from the start of season, North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson gave their supporters good news on the reintegration of Jy Simpkin into the squad. Meanwhile, on the field, the Western Bulldogs showcased an aggressive and efficient performance in their AAMI Community Series clash against Hawthorn, securing a 44-point victory that highlighted their attacking prowess and defensive depth ahead of the upcoming premiership season.
AFLW: Danielle Ponter (Crows) is currently receiving recognition for her work with Indigenous girls, balancing her professional football commitments with a community coaching role that she describes as a dream come true.
In other news, the coaching landscape continues to evolve as Richmond is set to appoint Jarrad Donders, a premiership-winning coach from the Eastern Ranges, to lead their program into a new era of development.
The AFL season is set to start on the 5th of March, while the AFLW, in August. Stay tuned!
This Card
Luke Shuey is an iconic West Coast Eagles figure. The club selected him with pick 18 in the 2008 National Draft.
Luke overcame early injuries to become a dynamic midfielder. Shuey was famous for his explosive speed and clinical disposal. His greatest moment came during the 2018 Grand Final. He won the Norm Smith Medal as the best player on the ground. This performance helped the Eagles secure their fourth premiership.
Shuey was a model of consistency over his 248-game tenure. He won two John Worsfold Medals as the club’s best and fairest.
He was appointed captain of the Eagles in 2020. Shuey led the side through a challenging period with great resilience. He retired from professional play at the end of 2023. He now works as a coach for the club’s football department. His championship experience continues to shape the next generation of players.
In the Arena
The 2026 AFL season started on Thursday night at the SCG, where the Sydney Swans delivered a ruthless 63-point thrashing to Carlton. While the Blues held a narrow 10-point lead at the main break, the game turned on its head during a historic third-quarter onslaught. The Swans piled on a staggering 12 goals in a single term, marking the third-highest quarterly score in the history of the league. Carlton was ultimately powerless to stop Sydney’s lightning-fast transition as the final score settled at 132 to 69.
The momentum continued on Friday as the Gold Coast SUNS signalled their arrival with a dominant 56-point victory over Geelong. The SUNS asserted their authority from the first bounce at People First Stadium, racing to a 29-point lead by quarter-time after a seven-goal opening. The pressure remained relentless in the humid conditions, with the margin ballooning to 79 points during the third quarter. The final score was 125 to 69.
Not bad for round 1 so far!
Image of the Week
Picture: AFL Photos