Know what you mean Vern, I played Gaelic Football in my 20s , as a 10.86 100 meter man and being way faster than anyone on the pitch, I rarely was first onto the ball in a breaking ball situation, this a pure “reading the game” situation and improvement in this when not instictive could only been gained with constant sequential in the game drilling which was rarely done.
However pure “track type” linear type speed was very useful when situations arose to take a ball at full speed, so positions on the team would have been suitable to this. Also in games like rugby.
I would have observed some players that could always get the edge with minimal athletisism, but with great instincts, these guys are usually the ones that grew up with a ball in their hands, so arguments for all aspects
