Champion Data reveal the top runners in 2017

Published by
Stephen Marson

As the game continues to evolve year by year, players entering the AFL landscape need to now be elite runners, as well as good footballers.

With interchange rotations capped and teams playing high-intensity football, player will get caught out if they're not up to standard, although the following players are some of the best areobic runners in the game.

GWS midfielder Tom Scully is the game's best two-way runner according to Champion Data, although many footy fans would have been able to tell just by watching the Giants play last season.

Scully consistently burnt his opponents on the break and was always back helping out his defenders, as his running ability has elevated his game, with Scully now one of the game's best outside midfielders.

Most distance covered in a game

Player Club Round Km
Tom Scully GWS 8 18.34
Tom Scully GWS 6 18.05
Tom Scully GWS 4 17.77
Tom Scully GWS 20 17.67
Nick Robertson Brisbane 19 17.63
Tom Scully GWS 5 17.52
Andrew Gaff West Coast EF 17.48
Tom Scully GWS 7 17.37
Andrew Gaff West Coast 10 17.29
Tom Scully GWS 3 17.23

The 26-year-old recorded the top four distances covered in the AFL this season, and has seven of the top 10 distances.

Amazingly, Scully also covers the most distance at high speed, registering the top 10 distances in that category.

Most distance covered at high speed

Player Club Round Km
Tom Scully GWS 8 4.81
Tom Scully GWS 20 4.73
Tom Scully GWS 19 4.72
Tom Scully GWS 5 4.63
Tom Scully GWS 2 4.47
Tom Scully GWS 22 4.38
Tom Scully GWS 7 4.37
Tom Scully GWS 4 4.35
Tom Scully GWS 9 4.28
Tom Scully GWS 17 4.13

In terms of distances covered by position, Scully clearly leads all wing players, as Giants players also lead both key positions at either end of the ground.

Adam Tomlinson and Jeremy Cameron covered the most distances in a single match as a defender and a forward respectively in 2017, with Collingwood midfielder Steele Sidebottom achieving the most distance covered by a player not on the wing.

Most distance covered by a game by position

Position Player Club Round Km
Gen Defender Kade Kolodjashnij Gold Coast 3 16.78
Key Defender Adam Tomlinson GWS 6 16.06
Midfielder Steele Sidebottom Collingwood 15 17.05
Wing Tom Scully GWS 8 18.34
Mid-Forward Jordan Foote Sydney 5 17.01
Gen Forward Alex Neal-Bullen Melbourne 5 16.45
Key Forward Jeremy Cameron GWS 8 16.04
Ruckman Jonathon Griffin Fremantle 20 14.44

The Giants keep their domination of these stats with Toby Greene, as the forward's top speed of 35.3km/ph in the semi-final last season the quickest a player ran all year.

Port Adelaide's Jarman Impey matched Greene's pace in the Elimination Final the week prior.

Fastest speed reached

Player Club Round Km
Toby Greene GWS SF 35.3
Jarman Impey Port Adelaide EF 35.3
Sebastian Ross St Kilda 19 35
Connor Menadue Richmond 13 35
Jayden Hunt Melbourne 17 34.9
Jason Castagna Richmond 9 34.8
Shai Bolton Richmond 11 34.8
Shaun Atley North Melbourne 21 34.7
Jayden Hunt Melbourne 6 34.7
Jayden Hunt Melbourne 9 34.7

Fremantle star Bradley Hill clocked up the most sprints in a game according to the numbers, and is a serial offender in this category.

Hill has eight of the top nine scores, topping the table with his 45 sprints in round 20.

Most sprints in a game

Player Club Round Sprints
Bradley Hill Fremantle 20 45
Bradley Hill Fremantle 23 43
Bradley Hill Fremantle 3 42
Bradley Hill Fremantle 12 42
Tom Scully GWS 2 41
Bradley Hill Fremantle 19 41
Bradley Hill Fremantle 11 40
Bradley Hill Fremantle 22 40
Bradley Hill Fremantle 7 39
Jeff Gartlett Melbourne 13 38
Steven Motlop Geelong 3 38

 

Published by
Stephen Marson