A move to defence has provided talented prospect Connor Ballenden with an important confidence boost, but NAB AFL Academy head coach Luke Power still sees the draft hopeful becoming an imposing key forward at the top level.
Ballenden, who is tied to the Brisbane Lions academy, was the Allies' best player in their defeat to Western Australia last weekend.
The 18-year-old has played the majority of this year as a key forward and ruckman, but shifted to defence against WA and collected 23 disposals, eight marks and four rebound-50s in a promising display.
Power, who has been in charge of the Academy since the end of last year, said he doesn't think Ballenden will be a long-term key defender, but viewed it as a valuable learning experience.
"I don't think so long-term, but it's important at this stage when we're developing them at this age for them to play different positions. Because I think they'll become more rounded players from it and then go back to their primary position and they'll be playing better football because they understand the other side of it," he told AFL.com.au's Road to the Draft podcast.
"Our message to Connor over the last few weeks, when his form probably hasn't been to the level he can play at, has been ‘what are you doing when you don't have the ball? How are you contributing? As a key forward and ruckman are you bringing the ball to the ground?’
"They’ve been the important things. If you send guys down back it forces them to do it a bit, and it was really good to see him deliver and also take a lot of intercept marks."
The winless Allies' final game of the national carnival will be next Wednesday, when they meet Vic Metro at Simonds Stadium.
Ballenden will return to the Lions' NEAFL side after the championships and Power said it was imperative he continues his form.
"He's almost 200cm and he's one of the most together talls I've actually seen in terms of his ball use, his touch and being able to mark the ball."
"He's a brilliant kick, so if he gets the ball enough he's going to have an influence."
