Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Community Series 2/03/24

[Axe Man]

AFL practice match teams: Western Bulldogs star Caleb Daniel under selection pressure

Could Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge make another shock call at selection ahead of round 1? There was some surprise news out of Whitten Oval this week, reports Sam Landsberger.

Western Bulldogs premiership star and All-Australian Caleb Daniel is understood to have come under shock selection pressure on the verge of the season.

There was a belief this week that the much-loved utility would be axed from the round 1 dress rehearsal against Hawthorn in Tasmania on Saturday night.

But sources have since confirmed that Daniel would travel to Launceston and be named in the squad to take on the Hawks in the pre-season match.

The Bulldogs will announce their team at 5pm on Friday.

Daniel has played some match simulations in the seconds this pre-season, but that is understood to be in part due to the Dogs’ strong core of midfielders.

Daniel, 27, has been a stalwart at Whitten Oval ever since he was drafted in 2014.

The link man with an incredible football IQ has played 85 out of the past 90 games and he has long been one of the club’s most consistent performers.

In 2020 Daniel won the Charles Sutton Medal as the club’s best-and-fairest in the same year he was named in the All-Australian team.

Last year, Daniel placed fourth in the best-and-fairest.

Daniel – who is contracted for a further three seasons – has placed inside the top seven in each of the past eight seasons.

If Daniel started the season on the fringe of selection it would come as a major shock to both supporters as well as some of his teammates.

Daniel’s place in the line-up now looms as a watch entering the home-and-away season.

Coach Luke Beveridge has a history of giving new recruits extended opportunities to make an instant impression.

It is expected both Melbourne recruit James Harmes and pre-season signing Lachie Bramble will be in the team to take on the Hawks in the pre-season clash.

Last year, Rory Lobb played 20 games despite his indifferent form while Jackson Trengove featured in 38 games across his first two seasons at Whitten Oval.

Trengove was secured as a high-priced free agent but was never able to transform the Dogs’ fortunes.

Jack Macrae has been left out of the pre-season squad, but that is purely to manage his minutes when playing for Footscray in a VFL scratch match as the three-time All-Australian recovers from a hamstring injury.

[bornadog]

I still think Daniel's best spot is a back pocket

[Curly5]

He could be axed but he’s gone to Tassie in the squad…

Is this just a beat up? I can’t imagine CD not being in the team. We need his level head and clever decision making. Also in the leadership group.

[ledge]

So the article starts off Daniel in doubt then the next paragraph he is playing.
Then brings up Trengove ?
I’m sorry but this article makes no sense whatsoever , it is also a practice game , if you’re not playing two or three players who are on the fringe or new recruits you arent doing your job.
I have no idea what this article is trying to say.

[Happy Days]

Remember when Bevo didn’t pick Caleb for Round 1 that year we got destroyed by GWS so he could pick Gowers and Honeychurch instead?

Doesn’t strictly apply here but wow that sucked.

[Axe Man]

Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs
Saturday 2 March 2024 • 6:10 PM (AEDT)
University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston • Palawa
Broadcast: Fox Footy/Kayo

B: Lachie Bramble, Liam Jones, Nick Coffield
HB: Ed Richards, Buku Khamis, Jason Johannisen
C: Bailey Williams, Tom Liberatore, Harvey Gallagher
HF: Lachie McNeil, Rory Lobb, Cody Weightman
F: Rhylee West, Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
FOLL: Tim English, Marcus Bontempelli, Adam Treloar
INT: Taylor Duryea, Laitham Vandermeer, James Harmes, Ryley Sanders, Caleb Daniel, Luke Cleary, Sam Darcy, Oskar Baker

EMG: Caleb Poulter, Anthony Scott, Charlie Clarke, Arty Jones

[GVGjr]

Good to Gallagher on a wing and Bramble in a BP. Khamis gets a chance to show his value being picked at CHB.
Cleary on the bench and I wonder how we will use Darcy and Daniel?

[Grantysghost]

Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs
Saturday 2 March 2024 • 6:10 PM (AEDT)
University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston • Palawa
Broadcast: Fox Footy/Kayo

B: Lachie Bramble, Liam Jones, Nick Coffield
HB: Ed Richards, Buku Khamis, Jason Johannisen
C: Bailey Williams, Tom Liberatore, Harvey Gallagher
HF: Lachie McNeil, Rory Lobb, Cody Weightman
F: Rhylee West, Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
FOLL: Tim English, Marcus Bontempelli, Adam Treloar
INT: Taylor Duryea, Laitham Vandermeer, James Harmes, Ryley Sanders, Caleb Daniel, Luke Cleary, Sam Darcy, Oskar Baker

EMG: Caleb Poulter, Anthony Scott, Charlie Clarke, Arty Jones

Wonder if that's our Wings for rd 1. Williams and Gallagher? Interesting Poulter didn't make the cut.

Gardner isn't even in the emergencies with JOD injured? Buku as the 2nd tall defender very interesting.

I'm not surprised by the Daniel talk really, if he's not in the backline I don't know if he's got a spot. I'd be swapping him with Bramble.

[GVGjr]

He could be axed but he’s gone to Tassie in the squad…

Is this just a beat up? I can’t imagine CD not being in the team. We need his level head and clever decision making. Also in the leadership group.

It really depends on how much time he gets to determine where he is in the minds of the selectors.

[GVGjr]

Wonder if that's our Wings for rd 1. Williams and Gallagher? Interesting Poulter didn't make the cut.

Gardner isn't even in the emergencies with JOD injured? Buku as the 2nd tall defender very interesting.

I'm not surprised by the Daniel talk really, if he's not in the backline I don't know if he's got a spot. I'd be swapping him with Bramble.

Gards hasn't trained this week GG. He won't play tomorrow either.

[meenies]

Agree with the squad bar Duryea. Would of preferred Charlie in there.
Always seemed to be close between Williams, Baker, and Poulter. Maybe Williams diversity won the spot.

[GVGjr]

Agree with the squad bar Duryea. Would of preferred Charlie in there.
Always seemed to be close between Williams, Baker, and Poulter. Maybe Williams diversity won the spot.

Probably with some doubts on Dale we had to roll the dice with Duryea and Bramble with Cleary as a back up.

[Grantysghost]

Gards hasn't trained this week GG. He won't play tomorrow either.

Ah thanks i wondered what was going on..! What's he done?

[GVGjr]

Ah thanks i wondered what was going on..! What's he done?

I really don't know, he walked laps on Monday with JOD, rode the bike a bit on Wednesday and didn't do much today.

[ledge]

I know this is nothing to do with this game , but I just heard one of the commentators at the Geelong v bombers game call Shannon Neale “scratcher” that bought back memories but they are nothing alike, the original scratcher he was a short, hard at it ranga , quite the opposite of Shannon.
Anyway back to where we were .