IF YOU'RE a young defender on the rise, who better to ask for advice than Brisbane's dynamic forward Charlie Cameron?
Which is exactly what Gold Coast's Wil Powell did after manning the Virgin Australia AFL All Australian in last week's QClash at the Gabba.
RACE FOR THE FINALS What happens next?
After Cameron had the better of Connor Budarick in the first three quarters, Powell was shifted to defend him in the final quarter, and didn't waste a second after the final siren to get some advice.
"I asked him what I could work on and he told me a few things," Powell told AFL.com.au.
"He was really good. He said to work on my core (strength) and not go to ground.
OLD-SCHOOL GUN Rowell's scary promise, why the jumper's tucked in
"He said I read the footy well and (I need to) continue to grow with my strength, because I'm quite slight.
"It was definitely a massive learning."
Although the game was effectively over by the time Powell got his chance, he did a solid job, keeping Cameron to three disposals in the final term.
"He uses his body so well," Powell said.
"Things you wouldn't expect, little things with his hips, he never goes to ground and he's probably the fastest human being I've ever seen, which doesn't help when you're playing on him."
Powell gathered 22 disposals against Collingwood on Monday night, continuing a fine third season that has seen him move from the wing back into defence.
Slightly built, he has gained 11kg since coming to the club as a scrawny teenager in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft.
One thing Powell has never lacked is courage, something he displayed time and again against the Magpies, sprinting back in front of leading forwards to help his teammates.
"I'm not scared of that sort of thing," he said.
"It will hurt for five minutes and then get up and keep going. It's just for the team.
"If someone wants me to drop back, I drop back. I hear Collo's (Sam Collins) voice, 'Drop back', and I've got to do it.
"I don't really think, I just do, it's instinctive."
Powell said chatting to Cameron wasn't the first time he'd spoken to opponents post-match about his progress.
The 21-year-old said a number of players had commented on his development, something that had given him a lot of confidence.
"I used to overthink things if I did something wrong. I'd dwell on it and it'd eat me up during the rest of the game.
"This year I've forgotten about everything. If I do something bad, I can't change it.
"Starting to get noticed and getting some recognition from other players is nice."
With Matt Rowell, Izak Rankine, Ben King, Noah Anderson and Jack Lukosius all drafted in the past two years, Powell and fellow 2017 draftee Charlie Ballard can easily get lost in the talk of young Suns.
However, with his skill by foot, courage in the air, huge aerobic capacity and willingness to learn, the young West Australian is shaping as a crucial long-term cog for Gold Coast.
