Carlton’s Sam Rowe and Matthew Watson have relived their childhood days of collecting footy cards.

The pair visited the Little People toy store in Brunswick on Wednesday afternoon, to swap cards with school children.

“We’ve heard that most schools in Victoria have banned trading footy cards,” Rowe said. “So we’ve come down here to trade some cards with the kids and have some fun.”

The toy store has set up a dedicated counter for children aged 13 and under to swap cards with staff every Saturday.

Store owner John Skrinos began the initiative, after his children’s school banned students from trading AFL cards – a policy that is spreading through schools across the state.

Both Rowe and Watson found it a little surreal being asked for autographs on cards bearing their own pictures, while Watson concedes there could still be a footy card or two hiding under his bed at home.

“Yeah I had a few cards, I was into all the crazes when I was growing up,” Watson said. “Footy cards were something I collected for a while and I’ve still got a few lying around at home.”