AFL & NRL Redemption Cards: How to Claim Yours
What Is a Redemption Card?
A redemption card is a placeholder insert found inside trading card packs. It represents a specific premium card (or card set), typically an autograph, signature booklet, or memorabilia card, that wasn't physically ready when the product was packed and shipped. Think of it as a genuine promise from the manufacturer: send us this card and we'll deliver the real thing once it's produced or signed. Sometimes, the cards are ready at the time of release, but they may and weight or some other variable to a packet that means they could be cherry picked from boxes. In instances like this, and others, redemption cards also used.
Redemption cards exist because autograph and memorabilia inserts take significantly longer to produce than the main set. With autograph cards projected to dominate the global sports card market for decades to come, redemptions are becoming more frequent, although at Select we do our very best to minimise them, to not tarnish the fun of opening (but we don't think it does)!
Unlike other global card manufactures, Select all but guarantees the redemption card you find will remain valid. Redemptions take 1 - 16 weeks from release, with an average of 7 weeks, but sometimes there could be an outlier that will take us longer due to the players schedule/decision. This track record "guarantee" means collectors are happy to trade, sell, or hold redemption cards - knowing the are as valuable as what the represent.
No other manufacture processes redemptions as quick as we do,
As Australia's official AFL and NRL licensee with over 30 years of heritage (since 1993), Select Cards operates a dedicated Redemption Centre to make the claiming process straightforward. Here's everything you need to know to get it right.
The Three Types of Select Cards Redemptions
Not all Select redemptions work the same way. Understanding the three distinct types will save you time, confusion, and potential disappointment.
Type 1: Signature and Premium Product Redemptions
These are the standard premium inserts, including autograph cards, signature booklets, and other high-end cards included in main releases. They become redeemable once the physical card has been produced and is available at Select's warehouse. Submit your redemption and, once the card is ready, it ships to you.
Type 2: Predictor and End-of-Season Redemptions
This is where things get interesting. AFL Predictor cards are contingent on season outcomes. Categories include Brownlow Medal, Coleman Medal, Premiership, Rising Star, and Norm Smith. Your card only becomes redeemable if the featured player or team wins the relevant award.
The 2024 Brownlow Medallist Series Predictors are a strong example. These are valid across three seasons (2024, 2025, and 2026), meaning a single predictor card gives you three shots at a win. If your player takes out the Brownlow in any of those years, you redeem for an autographed booklet numbered to just /35.
For the 2026 AFL Footy Stars release, Predictor cards are limited to only 220 copies across five categories: Brownlow (90 cards), Coleman (18), Rising Star (18), Norm Smith (18), and Premiership (18). The scarcity is real.
Type 3: Instant Win Redemptions
Found in releases like 2025 Footy Stars, these cards have a redemption window printed directly on the back. Once that window closes, the card is no longer valid. No exceptions. Check the dates the moment you pull one.
Select is also broadening what redemptions can unlock. The 2026 AFL Footy Stars and 2026 NRL League Heroe's releases introduced the Golden Treasure card (one per club), which redeems for an exclusive 5 card gold team card set rather than a signature. Redemptions are evolving beyond autographs, and that's exciting for the hobby.
Step-by-Step: How to Submit a Select Cards Redemption
All redemption submissions go through the official Redemption Centre at redemptions.selectcard.com.au, create and account andl login. You will then see what redemption cards are ready for submission. You'll need the physical redemption card in hand before you begin.
Step 1: Create Your Online Submission
Head to the Redemption Centre portal and create your submission online first. Do this before you mail anything. The system will generate a confirmation and instructions for posting your card.
Step 2: Choose Your Processing Option
You have two choices:
- Standard Processing - Free, shipped via Australia Post, handled as secondary priority.
- Priority Processing with Express Post - Paid option, handled with priority at every stage.
For high-value cards like Brownlow Signature Booklets, Priority Processing is worth the investment. The small extra cost is nothing compared to the value of what you're receiving back.
Step 3: Mail Your Physical Redemption Card Within 30 Days
This is the deadline that catches people out. Once you create your online submission, you have exactly 30 days to get the physical redemption card to Select. If it doesn't arrive within that window, your submission is automatically cancelled.
Step 4: Track Your Submission
Keep your submission confirmation safe. You can check the status of your redemption anytime using the Redeemed Card Database on the redemption site.
Important Rules to Know
There's a 5-card maximum per submission. If you have more than five redemption cards, create multiple separate submissions. Also, Select processes a submission only when all cards in that submission are available. Mixing cards that are ready now with cards still awaiting production will hold up the entire batch.
Common Mistakes That Delay or Cancel Your Redemption
These issues come up repeatedly in the collector community. Avoid them and your experience will be much smoother.
Mistake 1: Mixing ready and pending redemptions in one submission. If you bundle immediately redeemable cards with cards still awaiting fulfilment, the entire submission waits until every card is available. Always split these into separate submissions and separate mailings.
Mistake 2: Missing the 30-day mailing deadline. Your online submission is only valid for 30 days. After that, it's cancelled automatically. Don't create your submission until you're ready to post.
\]Mistake 3: Stuffing multiple submissions into one envelope. Even if you have several submissions ready to go, the OzCardTrader community strongly recommends one submission per envelope. It keeps processing simple and prevents mix-ups.
Mistake 5: Sitting on an Instant Win card past its expiry. Unlike standard redemptions, Instant Win cards have hard expiry dates printed on the card. Once the window closes, the card is void. Check the back of the card immediately after pulling it.
Packaging tip: Protect your physical redemption card in a card sleeve or top loader before mailing. A damaged card in transit is a real pain point collectors have raised in reviews. Treat that redemption card like the valuable asset it is.
NRL Collectors: What's New Since Select Returned as Licensee
Select Cards became the official NRL card and sticker licensee again on 1 November 2025, returning to the code after previously holding the licence from 2006 to 2012. This means NRL redemption cards are now a newly active category under Select.
If you're an NRL collector who's been through the TLA Trading Cards process, there are key differences to understand. TLA allowed up to 12 months for replacement card delivery and used a PO Box in Dandenong South. Select's system is different: it's a hybrid model combining an online submission portal with physical mail, and that strict 30-day mailing window applies.
Don't assume the old TLA process carries over. Follow the step-by-step guide above to the letter. Select's return as NRL licensee also means new premium NRL redemption products are on the horizon, including potential NRL Predictor and autograph redemptions. It's a great time to be collecting NRL cards again.
What to Expect: Timelines, Value, and Tracking Your Redemption
Turnaround times vary depending on the type of redemption. Collector reviews report fulfilled redemptions processed in as little as 3 to 5 business days once the card is available. Predictor redemptions depend entirely on the AFL season outcome, so patience is part of the game.
Here's something that builds real trust: Select has historically honoured redemptions well past their printed cut-off dates, as long as stock remains available. Some collectors have successfully redeemed cards more than five years after the stated deadline. That's a strong track record.
Use the Redeemed Card Database on the Select redemption site to check the status of any previously submitted redemption. It's the quickest way to stay informed without needing to contact support.
The value gap between an unfulfilled redemption card and a fulfilled one can be enormous. A winning Brownlow Predictor booklet numbered to /35 is one of the most coveted collectibles in the Australian hobby. While you're waiting for fulfilment, store your physical redemption card safely in a sleeve or binder.
The global sports card market was valued at approximately $17.7 billion AUD in 2024 and is projected to reach around $36.3 billion AUD by 2034. Australia sits within the fastest-growing Asia-Pacific region for the hobby. Fulfilled redemptions from limited print runs are only going to become more collectible over time.
Claim Your Redemption with Confidence
Here's the quick recap: create your online submission first, choose your processing option, mail the physical card within 30 days, and stick to one submission per envelope. Follow those steps and you'll avoid the delays that frustrate so many collectors.
As Australia's official AFL and NRL licensee with over 30 years of heritage and a community of more than 100,000 collectors, Select Cards is a trusted partner in the redemption process. We've been doing this since 1993, and we take every redemption seriously.
Join the Select Collector Club (SCC) for priority access to new releases at retail prices, and download the Select Collector app on iOS or Android to stay across new redemption products as they drop.
Ready to submit? Visit the Redemption Centre at selectaustralia.com.au/pages/redemptions to get started.
Redemption cards are part of what makes this hobby so thrilling. That moment you crack a pack and find one is the start of a story worth seeing through. Claim yours.