THE LAST time Charlie Ballard lined up against Jaidyn Stephenson, things didn't go well for the defender.

Ballard was playing for South Australia in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and Stephenson for Vic Metro.

"You could say he toweled me up a bit," Ballard told AFL.com.au.

Stephenson kicked five goals to go along with 28 disposals and solidify his name as a top-tier talent in the upcoming NAB AFL Draft.

Collingwood snapped him up with pick No.6, while Ballard went to the Gold Coast Suns at No.42.

On Saturday night at Metricon Stadium, the pair will be on the same field again and possibly playing on one another.

"Hopefully I get one-up on him this weekend," Ballard said.

"He's fast but we'll see how the match-ups go. It would be a good challenge to come up against him – we're the same age, so good to see how I'm going."

Stephenson has been a sensation in his first season, kicking 21 goals in 13 games, while Ballard has been a Suns surprise packet, playing seven games straight and playing a variety of roles before settling in the backline.

He runs hard and is brave, more than happy to float back into space to take marks.

Suns coach Stuart Dew conceded he didn't think Ballard would be so prominent in his first year.

"Would we think he'd play this many games? I don't think so, but we also picked up early on in the piece, the way he went about his football, we thought he's a real chance to play senior footy and then it will just be how he adapts to that level and I think he looks really comfortable," Dew said.

"He's got a lot to learn but we're loving his development.

"I think he's got a lot of courage. There's a lot to like.

"He's got a healthy confidence about his ability, which is important and underestimated for a first-year player."