Caleb Daniel the definition of cut-price superstar after setting finals series alight
CALEB Daniel is the very definition of a cut-price AFL superstar and on Thursday night the second-year midfielder set the finals series alight.
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CALEB Daniel is the very definition of a cut-price AFL superstar.
On Thursday night the second-year midfielder set the finals series alight with his electrifying best-afield performance against West Coast.
The AFL’s shortest player gate-crashed territory where the big boys with million-dollar deals and years of experience are supposed to shine.
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The 168cm midfielder was playing in his 31st game, on the AFL’s minimum contract and with a late pick that saw the Dogs select him with house money.
And yet in the biggest game of his career, he played the contest of his life.
Daniel recorded career highs in every important category: possessions (33), contested possessions (13), inside 50s, intercept possessions (seven) and 488 metres gained.
The ultimate example of his lethal impact was this: he contributed 37 points to the scoreboard through a career-high six direct assists and a goal to the Eagles 52 total points on the night.
A Bulldogs side full of bargain-bin recruits got Daniel with pick 46 in the 2014 draft, which they received when maligned forward Liam Jones crossed to Carlton.
As a player on a base wage of $71,840 plus $4420 per senior match, he has earnt just $164,660 this year in a league in which 80 players earned over $500,000 in 2015.
The Dogs have found themselves the ultimate big game player, after he torched premiers Hawthorn with 29 touches in that Round 3 epic.
Daniel, signed up until the end of 2017 by the Dogs, has become the AFL’s pint-sized cult figure.
Those contested possessions and seven intercepts showed he is no receiver, Daniel breaking up Eagles advances with deft touches and hard tackling.
His manager Marty Pask said Daniel was just doing what he had for his entire junior career.
“I first saw Caleb play for South Adelaide and we organised a meeting with him and his parents. We sat down in a cafe and said we wanted to help him,’’ he said.
“The number one issue was always going to be his size but my philosophy has always been if you are good enough you are tall enough.
“He had an ankle injury at the start of his last year and played so well at the national championships and then got enough nominations to be invited to the national combine.
“He ran a 16.1 beep test, but he also ran a 2.9sec 20m sprint which put him in elite company and his agility was also outstanding and we knew his ball use was great.
“The Bulldogs had the confidence in the role they wanted him to play.”
Pask says despite the perception he was friendless apart from the Bulldogs, Daniel had the requisite five nominations from clubs to get him to that draft camp.
But while other clubs saw him as a late pick or rookie selection the Dogs last live selection was at 46 so they snapped him up.
The former Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs player says Daniel is perfectly suited to both the modern game and a role as a flag-bearer for diversity in our code.
“My hope for him was that he had the ability to use the footy, he had endurance and speed, he doesn’t fumble, and they were factors that would see a club drafting him,” Pask said.
“In the modern game half forwards push up into defence and then help to get goal side of opponents and that style of play is designed for a player who can run a 16 beep test,’’ he said.
“He is a real advocate of what the AFL is designed for and why everyone loves this game — it is for every shape and size possible and he is the epitome of that.”
Originally published as Caleb Daniel the definition of cut-price superstar after setting finals series alight
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