Mellington appeared before the Wodonga Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He had to apply to have his licence returned after being detected driving south on the Hume Highway near Glenrowan at 164km/h.

Police intercepted his car near the service station and it was immediately impounded for 30 days. 

The incident occurred on July 8 last year, with the court later taking his licence off him for a year.

He had been caught only four months after he was convicted of careless driving in the Bendigo Magistrates Court.

Prosecutor Wayne Taylor on Thursday asked why he had been caught so soon after the earlier court appearance. 

“Why were you doing 160-odd?” he asked the 24-year-old. 

“I can’t answer that definitively,” Mellington replied.

“It was just a brain fade.”

The prosecutor asked if he realised he could be imprisoned for any further dangerous driving offences, and Mellington said he did.

Magistrate Ian Watkins questioned what would have happened if he crashed at such a high speed.

“It would be instant death,” Mellington said.

“It could have been been catastrophic, what could have happened.

“Reflecting on the last 12 months, it’s not something I want to do again.”

Mellington, who lives in Benalla, has had to rely on hitch-hiking with truck-driving mates to get to work.

Mr Watkins granted his licence back.

“Come back on another charge like this, you’re at risk of going to prison.” he said.

Mellington will play for Caroline Springs next year.