This story originally appeared on afl.com.au

TELEVISION viewers will be able to see how far and how fast the game's best runners go in 2018 after the players agreed in principle to make such information public.

After much debate, players have agreed during CBA negotiations for in-game GPS tracking data to be shown during games if broadcasters adhere to certain restrictions on what is publicly revealed.

CBA nearly done as club bosses prepare to meet

AFL.com.au understands players were told during club visits in recent days that the agreement will restrict broadcasters to showing the top five players for distance covered and speed in games. 

It will give viewers an indication of the speed zones elite athletes such as Greater Western Sydney's Tom Scully and Fremantle's Bradley Hill operate in during games.

Scully has only been off the ground once in the second half during 2017, starting the fourth quarter of last week's game against St Kilda on the bench, while ex-Hawk Hill is regarded as one of the game's quickest players.  

While the details are yet to finalised, AFL.com.au understands the AFLPA would need to provide approval for any information outside the top five players on the ground to be used.   

Players were concerned that unfettered use of the information would lead to some players being criticised for their perceived work-rate when the data gathered in GPS tracking devices often needs to be put into context. 

There were fears commentators could also use the data to come to a simplistic conclusion as to what has caused a player to have a poor game. 

However, the players are understood to have acknowledged that the information would be of interest to television viewers and were prepared to compromise.

The AFLPA has spent the past week visiting players at clubs to explain the finer details of the CBA agreement which is expected to be ratified within the next month.

Adelaide backman Daniel Talia was less than enthused when queried on the prospect of having his tracking data revealed to the public.

"I'm not sure about it," he said on Tuesday at Crows training.

"At full-back, I don't run too much.

"It's an interesting one, it will be another tool for the commentators to talk about. You just don't want the media going on about GPS when it's not as relevant to football as some people think it is.

"It's an interesting concept, but I don't really support it that much."

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