What do you want to see in the next A League Release?

[Matt26]

Ok Guys and Girls,

Given the feedback on the first A League release from Tap 'N' Play, what is it that you are looking for in an A League Release?

What cards appeal to you? What inserts do you want to see as part of any future releases?

I will be feeding this info back to Tap 'n' Play so post away!

Cheers
Matt

 

[NBUnited]

I think it has already been passed on, but the size/thickness of the cards to be standard.

If it is going to be a 10yr anniversary release. Have some special inserts.

• First goal
• Most Goals
• Most clean sheets
• Maybe include the supporters and ask each supporters group what their favourite tifo display has been
• A card for each club logo (even those defunct) with their stats over the 10yrs, biggest win/loss
• All the championship and premierships
• Player with most league caps
• Most succesful coach

Im sure there are plenty of other ideas that will be added

 

[NBUnited]

FFA Cup included
Signature cards are always good too

 

[adi888]

It would be a good idea to make it have a more premium look. In comparison to other Soccer stuff, instead of going for the adrenalyn or match attax looks (with stats points and stuff), the collection should go more to the prizm or topps premier gold style. It has prettier and classier feel.

I get that the target market here maybe a younger audience, but maybe a compromise can be made to make it looks better.

And also, autos definitely. Always love autographs

 

[NBUnited]

It would be a good idea to make it have a more premium look. In comparison to other Soccer stuff, instead of going for the adrenalyn or match attax looks (with stats points and stuff), the collection should go more to the prizm or topps premier gold style. It has prettier and classier feel.

I get that the target market here maybe a younger audience, but maybe a compromise can be made to make it looks better.

And also, autos definitely. Always love autographs

Second Adi's point re the stats, not really a fan.

 

[Mike_K]

How about owner cards - a nice picture of Tony Sage would look lovely, or maybe some stadium cards with the sauce bottles at Gosford featured. 'Marquee players - Dud or not?' cards - William Gallas?

Seriously...
head coach/manager;
legends cards (delpiero, etc);
The All Star game players;
club champions (B&F winners);
club logo cards;
grand finalists (like the SP set did with the case cards); and
Signatures

Last year's SP set was quite good, but the ratios for the inserts was poor. It was a shame it suffered from no promotion and limited distribution.

But really it needs to hook in the kids, so maybe it need to be something like AFL teamcoach, but also enough in it to appeal to the collectors and traders.

 

[P_Phillips]

I think it has already been passed on, but the size/thickness of the cards to be standard.

If it is going to be a 10yr anniversary release. Have some special inserts.

• First goal
• Most Goals
• Most clean sheets
• Maybe include the supporters and ask each supporters group what their favourite tifo display has been
• A card for each club logo (even those defunct) with their stats over the 10yrs, biggest win/loss
• All the championship and premierships
• Player with most league caps
• Most succesful coach

Im sure there are plenty of other ideas that will be added

Wouldn't also mind seeing cards like teams/players with most yellow or red cards.

Just with some cards ie most successful coach may look to do two cards one based on clear cut most wins etc and one with the highest winning percentage otherwise the cards will be dominated by the teams/players/coaches that have been around the longest. Given the Wanderers performance in their two years they would most likely have a card as club with highest winning percentage but as they have only been in the comp for two years they have no chance of club with most wins.

 

[GoMoto]

Firstly you want to connect the consumer to the product. Once a connection is made, the product will be part of the consumer.
For the collector signatures are always a great start. There is a personal feel about an athlete signing a card being "found" in a pack/box by a collector. Game used items are also a great way to bring the collector closer to the game. eg: game used ball cards or game used ball redemption / signed framed jersey card.

Another throwback idea would be to have a redemption program for a team jersey. The jersey does not have to be game used, just a regular one. This could be done via a single redemption card or a points system. eg: 1 pack = 1 point. 100 points gets a jersey of your choice.

+ of course a free Melbourne Victory jersey for me for coming up with the idea!

 

[Cobretti]

TBH unless the league gets some superstars playing in it no matter what you do to the product people won't collect it.

The customers need to relate to the players better. All the best players play overseas.

 

[GoMoto]

TBH unless the league gets some superstars playing in it no matter what you do to the product people won't collect it.

The customers need to relate to the players better. All the best players play overseas.

The A-league will never get the best players in the world (in their prime) but the league has come a long way and is now is entertaining to watch. Del Pirlo was a big draw card as was Kewell, Heskey and now Jose Kennedy.

Memberships and attendance is at an all time high so that is a indication of growth. Which is what is needed. Try watching a game on Friday / Saturday night 7:30pm, you will be surprised.

 

[Matt26]

The A-league will never get the best players in the world (in their prime) but the league has come a long way and is now is entertaining to watch. Del Pirlo was a big draw card as was Kewell, Heskey and now Jose Kennedy.

Memberships and attendance is at an all time high so that is a indication of growth. Which is what is needed. Try watching a game on Friday / Saturday night 7:30pm, you will be surprised.

Just reinforcing this, the A League crowds this year are up 30% on last year. No matter which way you look at it, this is very impressive.

If you look at the Wanderers they would love a bigger stadium as they cant sell any more ticketed memberships because there simply isnt enough room at their stadium.

If someone had told me 5 years ago that Western Sydney would have a soccer team that was consitently getting full house crowds I would have laughed at you.

 

[BoondasH1]

@Matt26 Spot on and a lot of credit goes to the fans for showing up and supporting them. I guess they only ever wanted a Soccer team, not an AFL team lol.

I'm not a fan of famed jersey's etc... we are here to collect cards not jersey's or a framed jersey. Lets try and make an effort for game used or event used cards, that would worth while collecting.

Signature cards are a must, even if they aren't one per box, something to entice the customer to buy a box or two.

The thickness of the cards, I believe the first release the cards were a bit flimsy?

I know this has been done, how about another Johnny Warren tribute card, something limited to a few 100?

A card to do with Les Murray's contribution to soccer would be greatly appreciated.

As for the progression league itself, well Cricket, NRL & AFL see it as a real threat now, that says it all.

 

[Cobretti]

Just reinforcing this, the A League crowds this year are up 30% on last year. No matter which way you look at it, this is very impressive.

If you look at the Wanderers they would love a bigger stadium as they cant sell any more ticketed memberships because there simply isnt enough room at their stadium.

If someone had told me 5 years ago that Western Sydney would have a soccer team that was consitently getting full house crowds I would have laughed at you.

So what? look at cricket it sells out the MCG, SCG, Gabba, Adelaide oval etc.. every season. If card collectors cannot connect with those players they won't collect them it is that simple.

You are not going to get sports fanatics buying tradings cards if they have no interest for trading cards in the first place.

As a card collector there is no one in the A League that wants me to say I want their cards. Sure there are some former stars but guess what they already had cards in their prime when they played in much better leagues. People who wanted their cards already have the good ones. Those who still collect those players because they want to try and get every card of that player are far and few between in comparison to the soccer fans who watch the game.

 

[ozfootball]

If someone had told me 5 years ago that Western Sydney would have a soccer team that was consitently getting full house crowds I would have laughed at you.

Western Sydney is and has always been a large catchment of football

 

[NBUnited]

As long as the marketing is done properly it will help move the cards, having the free one in Fourfourtwo would of been a big help, exposing lots of football people to the fact that there are actually A-league trading cards available. Half the time the players dont even know that they are available and question where to get them from when you chase up autographs.

Cobretti just because you arent interested in collecting the A-league cards or can't connect to these players doesnt mean that the target that could quite well be kids/parents dont connect and look up to these players massively. Especially with the mainstream media attention the game gets these days. Let the people know there are cards out there of their favourite players and they will start collecting.

 

[P_Phillips]

A possible insert set I thought up with Cobretti bagging out the competition/cards is a A-League to Socceroo set featuring players who have started in the A-League and have since represented Australia. So Harry Kewell won't feature as he played for the Socceroos before his time in the A-League.

Think it also fits well with the 10th anniversary of the A-League to show what stars have been discovered.

 

[BoondasH1]

Well said Todd, that's what was missing in the previous A League release, some good old fashioned promotion. Fourfourtwo ws an excellent way to promote these cards.

I know first hand there is a market for A league cards / socceroos, you'd be surprised as to the amount of people that do actually collect these sets.

 

[P_Phillips]

TBH unless the league gets some superstars playing in it no matter what you do to the product people won't collect it.

The customers need to relate to the players better. All the best players play overseas.

If people are collectors and support the A-League they will collect the cards. If people think the A-League has no stars than they won't support the competition and as a result won't support the cards.

The A-League will probably never rival the European competitions as the money they spend on 1 player is about the entire salary cap for an A-League club but it is a place when Australian's can start and perhaps get noticed so their A-League card could almost be a rookie card. Also with Ange as coach of the Socceroos a few more players might stay in Australia or return to Australia as he is willing to pick A-League players and has said if you are playing you could be selected. So players aren't going to move unless they are guaranteed a starting position as they won't want to sacrifice their Socceroo spot for a bench at a foreign club.

 

[NBUnited]

Well said Todd, that's what was missing in the previous A League release, some good old fashioned promotion. Fourfourtwo ws an excellent way to promote these cards.

I know first hand there is a market for A league cards / socceroos, you'd be surprised as to the amount of people that do actually collect these sets.

Do you have any of this release yet mate?


As for the next release, as others have mentioned i think some jersey cards would be something a bit different and cetainly a first for Australian football cards.

An Allstars card for each of the allstar games?

I'm not sure how feasible it would be but i know TAP'N'PLAY are wanting to be at the forefront of technology and linking it to cards. For the '94 masters release of NRL cards they had 5 'acetate' clear cards that i rember were awesome collecting as a kid. Maybe some how linking it to scan with a link to a video highlight of that player/club, or with a torch behind it it somehow projects the image on the card onto the wall?

 

[Matt26]

Guys just as a heads up, Tap N Play now have a Facebook page for those that use it.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tap-n-Play-Trading-Cards/1489208941346210?ref=hl