Western Bulldogs pick up SA’s Caleb Daniel in AFL draft

PLENTY of people said Caleb Daniel was too small to play in the AFL.

PLENTY of people said Caleb Daniel was too small to play in the AFL.

At just 167cm and 66kg, the South Adelaide midfielder was considered too big a risk to take a punt on in some recruiting circles.

Last night the Western Bulldogs did not agree with those doubters, selecting Daniel with pick No. 46 at the AFL National Draft.

Coincidentally, Daniel will become one of the shortest players on an AFL list since Bulldogs Brownlow Medallist Tony Liberatorae, who stood at 163cm.

“I’m pretty speechless — hearing my name called out is something I’ve dreamt about for a very long time,” Daniel told The Advertiser.

“There’s a bit of irony there (following Liberatorae’s footsteps) but I guess the Bulldogs were the ones that saw the potential in me.

“It means a lot and is pretty hard to describe in words what sort of the feeling is going through your head.”

Daniel has been proving footy people wrong his whole life while applying fellow pocket rocket Brent Harvey’s mantra “if you’re good enough, you’re tall enough”.

He starred for SA at this year’s national under-18 championships and registered the equal-best result in the beep test at the draft combine in October.

“I tried to prove to everyone why shouldn’t I be drafted.

“I feel confident in my abilities and what I can do to play a role for the Western Bulldogs and do what I can at an AFL level.”

State under-18 coach Brenton Phillips described Daniel’s selection as “the story of the draft”.