Charlie Ballard was one of the most promising key defenders in the league under Stuart Dew's regime, one of the few player development success stories of yet another hope-filled coaching stint at Gold Coast that ended with no finals on the club's miserable record. The advent of Mac Andrew, hero of last week's late win over Essendon, has seen Ballard move from second in the depth chart to third behind Andrew, albeit the younger man's future may lie in the forward line after that ice-cold post-siren finish. He is a project in progress for Damien Hardwick, one of many.
Charlie Ballard was one of the most promising key defenders in the league under Stuart Dew's regime, one of the few player development success stories of yet another hope-filled coaching stint at Gold Coast that ended with no finals on the club's miserable record. The advent of Mac Andrew, hero of last week's late win over Essendon, has seen Ballard move from second in the depth chart to third behind Andrew, albeit the younger man's future may lie in the forward line after that ice-cold post-siren finish. He is a project in progress for Damien Hardwick, one of many.
Ballard is a bollard
Establishing himself as a key member of the Suns defence in his second season, Charlie Ballard demonstrated an intercept marking capacity while negating the opponent's key forward, his stat line often varying wildly between his best and worst performances. Ballard will aim for improved consistency for the upcoming campaign, after recovering from shoulder surgery. This issue was perhaps summed up by producing a season low seven touches a week after his season high. Look elsewhere.
Ballard is a wood duck
Used up forward in his first three senior games starting in round 7 for a scoreboard return of 1.1, Charlie Ballard switched to defence in round 11 and played until a knee ligament strain ended his season in July. He passed 13 disposals once in 11 appearances. Gold Coast's needs in key defensive posts are even more dire in the wake of the departure of Steven May, so you can bet that Ballard spent much of the off season on the protein shakes and lifting kettle bells in an effort to fill out that willowy frame. Avoid for fantasy.
