Welcome to the WBFC - Caleb Daniel

[bornadog]

Pint-sized Dog Caleb Daniel the next Boomer?

Harry Thring November 28, 2014 8:01 AM

Caleb Daniel in action for SA during the Under-18 Championships

•THERE'S a little bit of Brent Harvey about Western Bulldogs draftee Caleb Daniel, says his – now former - South Adelaide coach Brad Gotch.
The Bulldogs pounced on the 18-year-old with their last pick in the NAB AFL Draft, with Gotch claiming the 167cm forward/midfielder had some genuine star quality.

While he lacked 'Boomer's' raw speed, Gotch told AFL.com.au Daniel's vision and football smarts were among the best he'd seen.

Click here to check out Caleb Daniel's draft profile and watch his 2014 highlights
The teenager averaged 20 disposals at 92 per cent efficiency at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and collected All Australian honours.

He played 11 senior SANFL games for Gotch's Panthers this year, including three finals.

Gotch's opinion shouldn't be taken lightly – the former Fitzroy and St Kilda rover coached Willamstown to the 2003 VFL flag before joining Collingwood and the Bulldogs and then Port Adelaide as an assistant coach from 2012-2013.

He said that at pick No.46 the Bulldogs had found an incredibly creative footballer and, after running a 16.1 beep test at the combine – an aerobically gifted player.

"I'm thinking a little bit like a Boomer Harvey. Boomer's quite quick, but Caleb's got the endurance to be able to cover the ground and get into all the dangerous spaces," Gotch said.

"It's amazing, you saw in the state championships – some of the stuff was as good as you get, just elite.

"He'd pick out targets that you don't even see and hit them.

"It's quite a remarkable trait that a few would have noticed and the Bulldogs have decided to take a punt."

The only real hit on Daniel is obvious the moment you lay eyes on him – he's not a tall man.

At 167cm he was the shortest player drafted on Thursday night and, should he debut, he would become the League's shortest since Bulldogs champion Tony Liberatore.

But Gotch said he'd seen enough to back him in at the next level and, measuring in at just 166cm himself, he knows how to handle himself against much bigger opponents.

He said Daniel's size was rarely an issue throughout 2014, even while the heat was on during the club's finals campaign.

"The key thing I thought was that he matched it with senior footballers as an 18-year-old," he said.

"We were in the top three or four teams in the competition, got through to the finals and he was very creative and held his own.

"I haven't seen him get knocked off the ball too often or not be able to tackle and get brushed aside.

"He didn't look intimidated or out of his depth – he was clearly a class above.

"He was able to tackle and pressure and do all the things that you need, so why can't he?"

LINK: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-11-2...he-next-boomer

[Bulldog4life]

The fact that he has played against men and has held his own is a great sign.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

It sounds like we plan to play him as an outside link up player. Dal and JMac have mentioned size wasn't an issue given the role he'll play for us. Whilst this sounds good in theory, it looks like Daniel does his best work in traffic given he has elite decision making/disposal/evasive skills. It'll be interesting to see if he can play as predominately an outside type, and if opposition players try to hurt him/expose his height by pushing forward.

A good comparison might be Colyer from Essendon. Took him a few years to adjust but he had a great 2014 season with his outside run, and didn't really get exposed for his lack of height. He's more electric than Daniel, but the roles are likely similar.

[Throughandthrough]

A photo I took of Caleb last year


https://www.flickr.com/photos/glenel...59378/sizes/c/

[LostDoggy]

A photo I took of Caleb last year


https://www.flickr.com/photos/glenel...59378/sizes/c/

It's a great photo and brings up an important point, how is this bloke ever going to tackled legally? I'm so happy with this pick - up, can see him in and under packs and shaking and shimmying his way around opponents and delivering lace out passes to the forward line for years!!!

[LostDoggy]

'Duck' Daniels - opposition supporters will love him

[Dry Rot]

Our last pick, but I like his highlights and stats and match reports the best.

[mjp]

Our last pick, but I like his highlights and stats and match reports the best.

If he was 185cm he is pick #1 (or at least the first midfielder taken). Not even being funny with this comment. He is tiny though...

[Bulldog4life]

Wee Georgie Bisset 168cm Libba snr 163cm both champions of the Club. Caleb Daniel at 167cm. I'll back you in son.

[boydogs]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_v6hB90Noo

[bornadog]

Wee Georgie Bisset 168cm Libba snr 163cm both champions of the Club. Caleb Daniel at 167cm. I'll back you in son.

Those days the ruckman were 190cm. Times have changed.

[Bulldog4life]

Those days the ruckman were 190cm. Times have changed.

Not sure Scott Wynd was 190cm when he rucked to Libba BAD!

[Twodogs]

And it's not like well be packing the side with them. They won't all play at once. At any one time one will be injured a couple or three will be cooling their heels at Footscray. I doubt they'll play more than four at a time of the smaller players.'

At first anywy.

[Pedro Sanchez]

Gee he looks good. A natural old school rover. Love it. Duck Daniels has gotta be his nickname. Really hope he kicks on with us.

[divvydan]

Given his skills and decision making, Caleb's two main issues will be how does he get enough of the ball at AFL level to be damaging and how does he minimise his opponent's impact when we don't have the ball?

In terms of spread and footskills, he certainly matches those criteria better than just about anyone, we just need to find ways to get the ball in his hands.