Brady Grey has been learning the defensive ropes playing on one of the competition’s best small forwards in Hayden Ballantyne.

Grey is becoming a consistent performer for Peel Thunder after coming to Fremantle at pick 58 in the 2013 National Draft.

He said his second year in the system has been spent focusing on playing in defence after stress fractures sidelined for much of 2014.

Lining up on All Australian Ballantyne has been a tough learning experience for the 19 year old.

Brady Grey was drafted after just 13 senior games

“I spent the whole pre-season on Hayden Ballantyne, that was a reality shock,” he said.

“I’m starting to get used to playing on him and Sonny (Michael) Walters, two of the premier forwards in the competition.”

Grey’s football journey has been remarkable after having played just 13 senior games before he was drafted.

He said he had been watching tapes of similar sized Fremantle defenders Lee Spurr and Paul Duffield for tips.

He said he was loving coming to the club each day.

Silver linings for Grey

“The first year is a lot of settling in and you start to get used to the work load,” he said.

“Second season in you get to know a lot of the boys and I’m really enjoying it at the moment.”

The move from Tasmania to sunny Perth has also been an adjustment.

“I’m still getting use to the weather, it’s cool in the mornings at the moment, so it’s a lot like Tassie,” he said.