Fremantle’s serial AFL pest Hayden Ballantyne might be annoying his St Kilda counterpart Stephen Milne, without having said a word to him.

Saints coach Scott Watters was unapologetic on Thursday after saying Ballantyne could have replaced Milne as the league’s best small forward.

For all their notoriety in the way they annoy opponents, Ballantyne and Milne are outstanding goalsneaks.

“He’s a great player – maybe he’s gone past Stephen Milne as the best small forward in the competition,” Watters said of Ballantyne.

Watters was then asked what his player might make of that comment.

“Actions talk, so if that’s a challenge for Milney, fantastic,” Watters replied.

Ballantyne and Milne will be at opposite ends of the field for Friday night’s match at Etihad Stadium.

The Dockers’ small forward is back from a two-week suspension after the controversial round-one win over Geelong.

Cats’ defender Matthew Scarlett is in the last week of a three-week ban for punching Ballantyne.

Watters is a big Ballantyne fan, having coaching him in the WA state side.

He said Ballantyne’s gamesmanship was well known around the AFL and people were probably starting to work him out.

Watters added there should be no need to warn his players about the dangers of being sucked in by Ballantyne’s baiting.

“You don’t have to remind – it was pretty easy to see how an experienced player probably bought into something he didn’t need to,” Watters said, doubtlessly referring to Scarlett.

“We just want to remain disciplined, focused – that’s the way we’ll go about our business.”

Milne kicked three goals in Saturday night’s win over the Western Bulldogs, where he played on Bob Murphy.

“I thought Milney did a pretty good job on Bob Murphy,” Watters said.

“It was a good contest between two really good players.

“There was a really strong defensive element to Milney’s game that I really enjoyed last week and he got on the scoreboard late.”