Few players in the AFL can match North Melbourne’s Shaun Atley for speed off the mark, but the Gold Coast SUNS have unearthed another half-back who has shown is he fleet of foot, too.

Atley has provided plenty of rebound and the ability to run and carry from the back half of the ground for the Kangaroos since he was picked up at No. 17 in the 2010 draft.  At that year’s AFL Draft Camp, Atley showed off his electrifying pace, which included a third placing in the repeat sprint test.  

He also has a fourth-placing to his name in an AFL Grand Final Sprint after he finished behind the near-unbeatable Patrick Dangerfield in 2012.

In his six-game career so far, though, Sean Lemmens has served notice he can provide similar dash from half-back for the GC SUNS.  The South Australian finished just outside the top 10 in all the sprinting, agility and jumping tests at the 2013 NAB AFL Draft Combine, and he has brought that turn of speed to senior footy this year.

Lemmens showed his acceleration and flair with one of the goals of the season against Brisbane in round 3, and admits he needs to utilise his pace at AFL level, given his light, 73kg frame.

"I can't rely too much on cracking back physically, given my size, so definitely have to use my pace because it is one of my biggest strengths," he told SUNS TV.

The 19-year-old spent almost all of last season playing reserves for the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL.  

For a teenager who was running around in front of sparse crowds at suburban grounds last year, he now has the chance to play at Etihad Stadium just two weeks after he ran on to the MCG for the first time in a senior game.

"It was an amazing feeling to play on the holy grail of football a couple of weeks ago, and I can't wait to back it up at Etihad Stadium tomorrow."