AFL Draft 2014: Caleb Daniel South Australia’s best, says Champion Data

IN A draft shock, pint-sized South Adelaide midfielder Caleb Daniel is his state’s best-credentialed draft prospect, according to Champion Data.

3/11/14 - South Adelaide footballer and AFL draft target Caleb Daniel at Noarlunga Downs today - photo Naomi Jellicoe

FOR more than a year, West Adelaide big man Sam Durdin has been considered SA’s hottest draft property.

Until recently, most mock drafts had him inked as a top-five selection at this year’s national draft on the Gold Coast on November 27.

The 197cm key utility was even touted as a possible No. 1 pick.

But Durdin’s draft status has fallen.

A serious pre-season thumb injury and a modest AFL under-18 championships campaign could result in him shockingly sliding out of the top 10.

The Crows — heavily criticised for trading pick 10 to Geelong for selection 14 and a swap of later picks — might even overlook Durdin if he is still without a club when they make their first selection in 11 days time.

West Adelaide young gun Sam Durdin has slipped down the predicted draft order list.

While Durdin’s high-end potential is almost certain to see him be the first Croweater selected at the annual crapshoot, he will be picked on potential, rather than performance, according to the AFL’s official number cruncher, Champion Data.

Champion Data has produced its annual draft rankings and doesn’t even rank Durdin in its top 30 prospects, which it has based on statistical performance and its scouting reports, rather than a player’s potential and fitness and psyche testing.

It has Durdin sitting just outside the top 30 prospects in the country and rates him as the third best performed Croweater behind South Adelaide pocket rocket Caleb Daniel and North Adelaide elite ball user Harrison Wigg.

Nationally, Champion Data has Daniel ranked as the 16th best draft prospect and Wigg as the 26th most highly rated player.

SA high performance manager and dual national under-18 championship-winning coach Brenton Phillips, while a big fan of Daniel and Wigg, believes clubs would regret letting Durdin slide out of the top five.

“He’s a beauty, a real talent,’’ Phillips said.

“Assessments on players shouldn’t be made on one season. There were circumstances around his form line this year, such as his thumb injury and the fact he didn’t get a really good run at his footy.

Caleb Daniel has been ranked as ranked as the 16th best draft prospect. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“If you have a look at his form from the under-16s right through and watch his development then you can make a better assessment of him.

“Sam has an enormous upside and from what I’ve seen of this year’s draft pool he’s definitely a top-five pick.

“He’s your ideal swingman in that he can play at either end of the ground and also pinch-hit in the ruck.’’

While Durdin is near the top of the height spectrum among draft hopefuls, Daniel, at just 167cm, was the shortest player at the draft combine and believes his lack of height will go against him at the draft.

His league coach at the Panthers, Brad Gotch, says if the well-credentialed Daniel was 10 centimetres taller he would be a top-10 selection.

But with clubs focusing heavily on height and athleticism, he concedes Daniel could slip all the way through to the rookie draft.

Champion says AFL clubs needs to focus on what a player can do, rather than what he can’t.

It drew a comparison between Daniel and star Brisbane Lions midfielder Tom Rockliff, an all-Australian this year, who was overlooked at the 2009 national draft and had to wait until the pre-season draft to find an AFL club because of concerns over his pace and athleticism.

Harrison Wigg won South Australia’s MVP at the under-18 nationals.

In two key pointers as to Daniel’s impact, the 18-year-old pocket rocket averaged a carnival best 172 Champion Data rankings points at this year’s national under-18 championships and averaged more score assists (1.7 a game) than any other player at SANFL league level to have played 10 matches or more this year.

“How could you not draft him after his performances?’’, Phillips said.

“ He’s ticked every box that he needs to ticked other than the height box.’’

Wigg — SA’s MVP at the under-18 nationals — also deserves a high ranking because of his elite left-foot kicking, which has had him compared to Hawthorn premiership half-back Matt Suckling.

But a late season foot fracture has seen him called to Melbourne for AFL medical screenings as clubs seek more information about his injury.

Phillips is hoping SA has eight-to-10 players selected at the national draft and another strong group rookie-listed in December.