Caleb Daniel confident he can become shortest player in AFL since Tony Liberatore

SOUTH Adelaide’s Caleb Daniel is only 167cm tall but he believes he has what it takes to play AFL footy.

CALEB Daniel is used to proving the doubters wrong.

When he was six he was turned away by Morphett Vale Football Club because it felt he was too young and too short to begin playing in their underage sides. His parents drove him down the hill to Edwardstown, where he starred through his junior years.

Twelve years on, some AFL scouts have reportedly raised the same doubts about the 167cm pocket dynamo’s lack of size. But Daniel is adamant he can become the shortest player to play in the national league since Tony Liberatore, and his performances at the under-18 championships back up his belief.

The South Adelaide on-baller was best-afield in SA’s championship-clinching win over Victoria Metro in Geelong last week and made the All-Australian team.

It may have forced AFL clubs who had put a line through Daniel to reconsider.

“It does motivate me to prove people wrong,’’ the 18-year-old said.

“But like Boomer (Brent) Harvey has said, if you’re skilful enough and good enough, then you’re tall enough.

“If you can play the game, I don’t think there should be an issue with your height.

“It’s meant I’ve had to work harder but I think that has helped me in the long run.”

One good judge who believes Daniel can cut it in the AFL is South coach Brad Gotch.

Gotch, who has worked in AFL assistant coaching roles at Collingwood, Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide — played 96 VFL games from 1982-90 despite only being 166cm.

“I’m just finding watching this kid as the year’s gone on that he might be too hard to ignore for someone,’’ Gotch said.

“He’s got unbelievable endurance, speed, he’s got elite agility, decision-making and foot skills.

“I’ve changed my tune a little bit, to be honest. At the start of the year I thought it might be a bit difficult for him but now I think he might be an exception to the rule.”

Port’s Jake Neade is the shortest player in the AFL at 170cm and there are fewer than 30 players shorter than 176cm in what is increasingly an athlete’s competition.

Daniel has not only proven he can dominate against the best in his age group, he can compete with hardened men in the SANFL.

He played 10 eye-catching matches as a 16- and 17-year-old last season and is back in the league side this year after having the first half of his season derailed by an ankle injury.

“I’m raring to go for South now,’’ Daniel says.

“Hopefully we can keep winning and play finals.”