Sturt SANFLW star Alex Ballard follows footsteps of older brother, Gold Coast Sun defender, Charlie

One has spent four years on an AFL list, while the other is setting the local women’s footy scene alight. Check out the story behind the star siblings who inspire each other.

If you ask Alex Ballard, she reckons her older brother Charlie learnt all his football skills from her.

But Charlie says he taught his little sister everything she knows.

Although they might disagree on that, both say their backyard duals growing up has helped them develop into strong footballers in their own rights.

Charlie has played 51 AFL games for Gold Coast since being picked by the Suns at the 2017 National Draft, while Alex is staring with Sturt in the SANFLW.

The siblings linked up earlier this month when Charlie returned to SA to line up with the Suns in their clash against the Crows at Adelaide Oval.

“People always ask me if I learnt off Charlie but I always say it was more Charlie learnt off me, really,” Alex laughed.

Charlie Ballard with younger sister Alex. The pair grew up playing footy together and say their duals are behind their rapid rise in the sport. Picture: Emma Brasier

“We used to play footy, mostly inside which probably would’ve annoyed our parents a little bit,” Charlie said.

“But I’d like to think I gave a bit of my skill to her but it’s probably worked both ways, really.”

Alex made her debut with the Double Blues in the club’s inaugural women’s league season in 2018.

And seeing his sister don a Sturt guernsey was even more special for Charlie, after he won a double premiership with the club’s under-18 and reserves sides in 2017.

“She’s doing really well. She’s had a really good year this year.

“As long as she’s happy and she seems to be turning a lot of heads, so hopefully it ends up well for her.”

Alex, now 18, is a defender, like Charlie, and has been selected in the state’s under-19 girls side.

The side enjoyed a six-point victory against WA in the first of a three-match campaign, with games against the Allies and Queensland to come next week as part of the NAB AFLW under-19 national championships in Melbourne.

Charlie Ballard marks over Adelaide’s Sam Berry during the Gold Coast’s clash with the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Friday April 2. Picture: James Elsby

The national titles were set to be hosted in Queensland but due to Brisbane’s COVID-19 outbreak last month, they were moved to Melbourne.

The switch works well for the Ballard siblings, with Charlie set to be in Melbourne for the Suns’ clash against Western Bulldogs.

Alex was looking forward to representing the state again and was confident the Croweaters were good enough to win both games.

Her long-term goal was to eventually be drafted to an AFLW team.

“I am excited and nervous,” Alex said.

“We are a really tight-knit group even though we come from different clubs and I think we have a really good culture already.”

Charlie, meanwhile, has not been able to watch many of his sister’s SANFLW games live due to his commitments with the Suns.

Although he is unlikely to return to SA in the near future, having signed a contract to remain a Sun until 2025, Charlie says the pair still maintain a really strong bond.

“I’ve seen a lot of her highlights and she’s got a spark to her, which is good to see,” Charlie said.

“She’s selling candy and all this sort of stuff.

“We are all really close — me, Alex and our other brother Will are really close.

“Every time I come back home, it’s like normal old times.”