AFL drops first NFTs in partnership with Animoca Brands

The AFL and Be Media, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, today launched Ripper Skipper 2022, the first drop of limited edition NFT digital collectibles by AFL Mint, the home of officially licensed Australian Football League NFTs. Users who joined the allowlist are able to make purchases during this first NFT drop; the AFL Mint will open fully to the wider public on 24 August 2022 at aflmint.com.au.

There are 78 major moments in total to collect, featuring the captains from the 18 teams in the Australian Football League and showcasing different highlights from the 2021 Season.

Launched in April, AFL Mint has set the benchmark for NFTs within Australian sporting codes, allowing fans to own, collect and trade their favourite elements of the game and support their favourite teams and players. Furthermore, the program will develop to merge online experiences in the metaverse with real life experiences on game day such as ticketing and membership upgrades, chances to win tickets to major games, prizes, virtual reality experiences within the grounds on game day and much more.

The NFTs of Ripper Skipper 2022 have been launched to members of the public who had signed up to the allowlist, selling for AUD49 for a surprise three-pack.

The collection of AFL moments are available in three tiers of rarity, with the cards being revealed once the purchased pack has been opened. As a special launch initiative, the current Ripper Skipper purchases provide a 10 per cent chance of obtaining the extremely limited digital AFL Mint Genesis Ball. AFL Mint confirms that NFTs released in the future will offer a much lower drop chance of this limited item.

AFL Mint will continue to grow and evolve by creating unique and engaging experiences for AFL fans that are not merely collectibles but also offer relevant utility.  Fans will be able to experience exclusive game day events, tickets, unique AFL Mint-only content, and even hang out with their favourite players in the metaverse.

The launch of Ripper Skipper 2022 sees the AFL join an elite class of international sporting codes that have launched similar NFT series, including NBA Top Shot, the ICC’s FanCraze, MotoGP™ Ignition, and UFC Strike.

Visit aflmint.com.au to register and prepare for the public launch.

Kylie Rogers, Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial at AFL, said: “The AFL is excited to release our first AFL Mint drop. Our players and clubs are excited to provide fans a new way to engage with footy and celebrate the moments that make our game so great.

“The Ripper Skippers collection celebrates the incredible leaders in our game, with all 18 AFL captains minted as our first official NFTs.

“Through our AFL Mint brand, we will launch exciting new moments across our Men’s and Women’s competitions, plus celebrate past greats and other product releases that will bring a unique fan experience we haven’t seen before.”

Jordan Fogarty, Founder and CEO of Be Media, said: “We are excited to launch the first season-based NFT project in Australia, and to allow fans to own a slice of our Aussie game through these AFL Mint moments. This is the first step in a very exciting multi-year product roadmap.”

Yat Siu, the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands, said: “I am very pleased to see this project come to life, and to see the unique game that is ‘Aussie rules’ showcased on the global stage. Animoca Brands is excited to offer big Australian Brands like the AFL the chance to enter our global ecosystem and explore the exciting opportunities presented by the emerging open metaverse.”

Other collectable releases are in the works for the AFL Mint program, including AFLW Ripper Skipper, and the AFL Mint Marketplace will be coming in 2023 for people looking to sell and trade their cards on the AFL’s own trading platform.