A FREMANTLE defender is the AFL's new speed merchant, according to innovative player tracking data made available for the first time.
Dashing Docker Ethan Hughes reached round 17's highest maximum speed of 35.6km/h in the Western Derby against West Coast.
He edged out Swans speedster Gary Rohan, who clocked 35.3km/h before tweaking his glute/hamstring against GWS, and flying Magpie Will Hoskin-Elliott (34.9).
The players agreed in last month's collective bargaining agreement to make available GPS tracking data from matches.
The data is now accessible for fans exclusively via the Telstra Tracker in the AFL Live Official App.
The top five players from each game will be revealed in categories including total distance covered, maximum speed and number of sprints.
To give Hughes' dash some perspective, Jamaican superstar sprinter Usain Bolt won 100m gold at the Rio Olympics averaging an only slightly faster 36.7km/h.
Of course, that's an average over 100m and Bolt's top speed – a fairer comparison to Hughes' burst – is an other-worldly 44.2km/h.
The tracker also sheds light on endurance, and no one covered more ground in round 17 than Giant Tom Scully's 17.1km, which helped him gather 28 disposals in the Sydney derby.
Gold Coast's Matt Rosa logged 17.0km to be second.
The king of the repeat effort is tireless Lion Nick Robertson, whose endurance heroics in Sunday's fighting loss to Richmond will have encouraged fans and coach Chris Fagan.
Robertson's 36 sprints against the Tigers was more than any other footballer in the round, and equal with Scully's efforts in round 16.
How to access the Telstra Tracker
• The ground-breaking player tracking data is now available to access for Telstra mobile customers in the AFL Live Official App
• To find the Tracker, fire up the App and head to the 'Stats' tab in match centre
