NICK Hind was not only one of the recruits of the year, but he was also one of the fastest.
In fact, the dashing Essendon defender was the quickest player in the AFL in 2021, according to Telstra Tracker data.
Hind was clocked at a top speed of 36.07km/h.
For context, if the 27-year-old could maintain that for 100m, he'd run 9.98sec and be in an Olympic final rather than on an AFL field.
Not surprisingly, the man Hind effectively replaced at Essendon – Carlton's Adam Saad – was one of 11 other players to top 35km/h.
So was Hind's former teammate Tim Membrey, as forwards and defenders dominated the quickest players at each club.
Remarkably, Fremantle had four men in the top 12, with Travis Colyer, Griffin Logue, Michael Frederick and Joel Hambling all in the upper echelon of AFL speedsters.
Top five fastest players in 2021
Tom Doedee 34.31km/h
Lachlan Murphy 34.09
Will Hamill 33.70
Ben Davis 33.66
Chayce Jones 33.01
Top five fastest players in 2021
Brandon Starcevich 34.31km/h
Charlie Cameron 33.98
Deven Robertson 33.84
James Madden 33.62
Keidean Coleman 33.52
Top five fastest players in 2021
Adam Saad 35.75km/h
Mitch McGovern 34.70
Jack Martin 34.22
David Cuningham 33.98
Josh Honey 33.84
Top five fastest players in 2021
Beau McCreery 34.20km/h
Brayden Maynard 34.06
Brody Mihocek 33.32
Jamie Elliott 33.30
Will Hoskin-Elliott 32.87
Top five fastest players in 2021
Nick Hind 36.07km/h
Matt Guelfi 34.78
Zach Merrett 34.60
Brayden Ham 33.98
Mason Redman 33.48
Top five fastest players in 2021
Travis Colyer 35.39km/h
Griffin Logue 35.35
Michael Frederick 35.06
Joel Hamling 35.06
Brandon Walker 34.63
Top five fastest players in 2021
Jed Bews 34.99km/h
Gary Rohan 34.51
Isaac Smith 34.06
Jack Henry 33.73
Patrick Dangerfield 33.62
Top five fastest players in 2021
Oleg Markov 35.89km/h
Touk Miller 34.27
Lachie Weller 34.27
Sean Lemmens 33.98
Jarrod Harbrow 33.34
Top five fastest players in 2021
Bobby Hill 35.14km/h
Jeremy Finlayson 34.16
Brent Daniels 33.59
Isaac Cumming 33.52
Harry Himmelberg 33.37
Top five fastest players in 2021
Jacob Koschitzke 33.91km/h
Sam Frost 33.84
Changkuoth Jiath 33.80
Dylan Moore 33.16
Oliver Hanrahan 33.08
Top five fastest players in 2021
Jayden Hunt 35.24km/h
Kysaiah Pickett 34.56
Alex Neal-Bullen 33.95
Ed Langdon 33.91
Christian Salem 33.80
Top five fastest players in 2021
Aiden Bonar 35.23km/h
Cameron Zurhaar 34.27
Tom Powell 33.62
Aaron Hall 33.55
Jaidyn Stephenson 33.52
Top five fastest players in 2021
Aliir Aliir 34.54km/h
Ryan Burton 34.49
Connor Rozee 34.42
Mitch Georgiades 34.06
Lachie Jones 33.95
Top five fastest players in 2021
Jason Castagna 35.46km/h
Liam Baker 34.74
Kamdyn McIntosh 34.13
Marlion Pickett 34.09
Riley Collier-Dawkins 33.98
Top five fastest players in 2021
Tim Membrey 35.60km/h
Jimmy Webster 34.92
Dan Butler 34.56
Ben Long 34.13
Dougal Howard 34.06
Top five fastest players in 2021
Harry Cunningham 33.77km/h
Braeden Campbell 33.62
Robbie Fox 33.23
Sam Wicks 33.23
Dylan Stephens 33.16
Top five fastest players in 2021
Jack Petruccelle 34.88km/h
Brad Sheppard 34.31
Xavier O'Neill 34.31
Josh Rotham 34.06
Tom Barrass 33.98
Top five fastest players in 2021
Jason Johannisen 34.56km/h
Bailey Dale 34.16
Caleb Daniel 34.02
Bailey Williams 34.02
Laitham Vandermeer 33.80
