The Speed myth

[buck_nekkid 5,465]

From AFL.com, here are our speedsters for 2020.

Interstingly, many teams that we think are fast are significantly slower than us if you compare results.  It is not speed of player, but speed of ball that counts!

Would these have been your top 5?

Top-five fastest players in 2020
Christian Salem, 34.8km/h v Sydney, round 15
Michael Hibberd, 34.6km/h v Collingwood, round 12
Aaron vandenBerg, 34.3km/h v Fremantle, round 16
Kysaiah Pickett , 34.2km/h v Brisbane, round 8
James Harmes, 33.9km/h v Collingwood, round 12

Fastest speeds clocked in a game in 2020    
Christian Salem, 34.8km/h v Sydney, round 15
Michael Hibberd, 34.6km/h v Collingwood, round 12
Aaron vandenBerg, 34.3km/h v Fremantle, round 16
Kysaiah Pickett , 34.2km/h v Brisbane, round 8
James Harmes, 33.9km/h v Collingwood, round 12

[adonski 9,131]

Shows how bad it is neither Salem or Harmes were never trialed on the wing..!

Edited September 26, 2020 by adonski

[BW511 2,241]

Would not imagine any of the those guys, aside from Kossie, burning away from people on the run.

Intent and decision making speed are probably more important

[buck_nekkid 5,465]

8 minutes ago, adonski said:

Shows how bad it is neither Salem or Harmes were never trialed on the wing..!

I think the wing is all about endurance gut running, not just speed.  The ability to not just be fast once, but to hold the width and continuously it in sprint efforts is what matters.  Interesting that Langdon made such a difference to us as a winger yet he was not in the fast 5?

[Kent 2,581]

Is this a speed measured in a single event or average 

[buck_nekkid 5,465]

4 minutes ago, BW511 said:

Would not imagine any of the those guys, aside from Kossie, burning away from people on the run.

Intent and decision making speed are probably more important

Agree with decision making speed.  Instead of rushing and panicking, simply being fast is a different trait.  

I also wonder if most of these efforts were not ‘burning away from’ but closing speeds into tackles (AVB in particular). 

[Lucifers Hero 36,991]

So much for all the people who repeatedly say Salem is slow.

#Salomyths

Edited September 26, 2020 by Lucifer's Hero

[buck_nekkid 5,465]

3 minutes ago, Kent said:

Is this a speed measured in a single event or average 

I think this was single event. If they had average speeds of 34km/h plus then they would have top speeds off the charts!  The reported stat was top measured speed - for many teams a single player had 2 or 3 top speed events for the team over the year, although we had 5 distinct fastest events/players.

[Skuit 9,166]

What a silly way to present the stats. 

[BW511 2,241]

15 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

I think the wing is all about endurance gut running, not just speed.  The ability to not just be fast once, but to hold the width and continuously it in sprint efforts is what matters.  Interesting that Langdon made such a difference to us as a winger yet he was not in the fast 5?

Speed endurance.

Langdon may not be the quickest over a certain distance, but he can keep doing it over and over again.

Repeat 100-200’s would be his bread and butter.

But as we agreed on with my other post, he had the desire to do it, which I don’t believe the rest of our guys do consistently enough

[Lord Travis 10,158]

17 minutes ago, Kent said:

Is this a speed measured in a single event or average 

Single event, which shows these players are capable but don’t utilize their speed often. Basically Vanders got up to 34kms in a chase, but otherwise stood around with his hands on his hips.

Average cruising speed is the important stat. It would show players like Langdon excelling as they constantly move at speed to adjust position with hard two way running.

[drdrake 3,037]

6 minutes ago, BW511 said:

Speed endurance.

Langdon may not be the quickest over a certain distance, but he can keep doing it over and over again.

Repeat 100-200’s would be his bread and butter.

But as we agreed on with my other post, he had the desire to do it, which I don’t believe the rest of our guys do consistently enough

Langdon said this in an interview after our gws game.  The question was something about 3km runs and Langdon responded more like repeat 150m runs.

Speed in football is different, top speed is important but break away speed and the ability to change direction at high speed are more important.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,159]

I would need to know speed over what distance before I question whether that is surprising.  Also these are one off acts and games.The most interesting thing there is none of them could repeat it and get in the top 5 more than once per match or act.

Edited September 26, 2020 by big_red_fire_engine

[Kent 2,581]

16 minutes ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

I would need to know speed over what distance before I question whether that is surprising.  Also these are one off acts and games.The most interesting thing there is none of them could repeat it and get in the top 5 more than once per match or act.

That was my thinking as well BRFE

[Kent 2,581]

So the competetion best is about 37 km/hr and the worst 32 km/hr 

It wouldnt make a helava difference? I would RATHER MEASURE HOW MANY TOP SPEED EVENTS PER GAME  SO WE COULD GET AN AVERAGE ACROSS THE GROUND 

Running is only one measure ball movement and accuracy and even thinking and decision making

[Dr.D 1,771]

doesnt factor in wind and also if the player is running downhill or not because it's much higher in the middle of the ground.

[dl4e 5,583]

Speed of the ball that counts. Well that is spot on and we are very poor at it. Look at us moving the ball quickly. We tend to stuff it up with poor skills and decision making. Centre bounce area is my favorite.

[kallangurdemon 470]

interesting how AVB is quicker than Jayden.I should have went to Specsavers .

[rjay 23,888]

2 hours ago, buck_nekkid said:

From AFL.com, here are our speedsters for 2020.

Interstingly, many teams that we think are fast are significantly slower than us if you compare results.  It is not speed of player, but speed of ball that counts!

Would these have been your top 5?

Top-five fastest players in 2020
Christian Salem, 34.8km/h v Sydney, round 15
Michael Hibberd, 34.6km/h v Collingwood, round 12
Aaron vandenBerg, 34.3km/h v Fremantle, round 16
Kysaiah Pickett , 34.2km/h v Brisbane, round 8
James Harmes, 33.9km/h v Collingwood, round 12

Fastest speeds clocked in a game in 2020    
Christian Salem, 34.8km/h v Sydney, round 15
Michael Hibberd, 34.6km/h v Collingwood, round 12
Aaron vandenBerg, 34.3km/h v Fremantle, round 16
Kysaiah Pickett , 34.2km/h v Brisbane, round 8
James Harmes, 33.9km/h v Collingwood, round 12

...but where is the comparison?

It's showing our top 5 events, where are the other teams?

[Canary M Burns 50]

They are great for measuring distance covered, but the top speed stats put out by the GPS units are pretty sketchy as I understand it. The largest margin of error tends to be seen in sprints, particularly where direction is changing. The units really struggle on the fine scale and have issues in the indoor stadiums. There was talk about using a different method to capture the data taking cues from the NBA, however that was going to require an investment and is probably not something that would be a priority in the post Covid AFL. 

In having a look at some info on current day GPS units I came across this article from Deakin Uni. It talks about GPS use in the AFL context up to the 2012 season. Admittedly it's 8 years old, and surprisingly poorly written in parts, but presents an interesting insight into the take up and attitudes around the technology.

https://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30049079/foreman-globalpositioningsystems-2012.pdf

[Age 381]

Yes, footspeed really doesn't mean all that much, it is ball movement. 

It's interesting how many on here would view us as slow and unskilful. After we beat GWS in the final round of 2018, Phil Davis commented how quick we moved the ball and how skilled we were. You can't tell me that we have lost heaps of actual pacey and skilful players over the last two years so where has it gone then?

[leave it to deever 15,315]

3 hours ago, BW511 said:

Would not imagine any of the those guys, aside from Kossie, burning away from people on the run.

Intent and decision making speed are probably more important

Me neither.

At leaat I got Tmac correct.

[darkhorse72 1,720]

As others have said, it is quick controlled ball movement.  If you are moving the ball with little contest, your side looks quicker than the opposition as they are chasing trying to cover positions.   Leg speed allows you too close or break from a contest.  Skills to efficiently move the ball quickly is better than outright speed across a whole team. (Yes you seem speedsters mixed in)

A game plan where everyone knows where the ball is going to go, really helps too, as they can move to position before the opposition know. 

[leave it to deever 15,315]

I'm curious to know haw fast Sprago is.

I know hes not tall but he seems to move quick at times.

Hunt did not get a mention

Langdon is up their for endurance.

Trac has good initial acceleration.

[Demon Dynasty 15,365]

2 hours ago, kallangurdemon said:

interesting how AVB is quicker than Jayden.I should have went to Specsavers .

Must have been clocked while sailing through the air for a mark KD.... either that or the GPS was glitching