AFL Draft 2014: Caleb Daniel joins Western Bulldogs, height no factor

RISING Star winner Lewy Taylor’s debut season was a factor in the Western Bulldogs’ decision to draft the shortest player since Tony Liberatore.

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

RISING Star winner Lewy Taylor’s brilliant debut season was a factor in the Western Bulldogs’ decision to draft the shortest player since Brownlow medallist Tony Liberatore.

With their final selection the Dogs swooped on 167cm South Australian Caleb Daniel.

The under-18 all-Australian was the No. 1 ranked player at the national carnival and heads to Whitten Oval with the nephew of Darren and Andrew Jarman, Declan Hamilton.

The Bulldogs snared five smart decision-makers and impressive runners to complement father-son key defender Zaine Cordy.

DRAFT ANALYSIS: HOW YOUR CLUB FARED

The club’s chief recruiter Simon Dalrymple said the draft package was a “really good combination” with off-season acquisitions Tom Boyd, Joel Hamling and Shane Biggs.

Daniel recovered from an ankle injury to average 20 disposals at a remarkable 92 per cent efficiency for South Australia.

He racked up 27 disposals, laid eight tackles and kicked three goals against Vic Country before thriving in 11 senior SANFL games and recording a supreme 16.1 beep test at draft combine.

Caleb Daniel is only 167cm tall. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“What we tried to do is look at what impact his height had on the game,” Dalrymple said.

“It’s not so much height, it’s vertical jump it’s arm span it’s how he wins the ball (and) uncontested possessions.

“So we took all that into account and just felt with his running capacity and his kicking efficiency that he could add to our team. That was a high priority to improve our kicking efficiency.”

Dalrymple said while they are different players, Daniel’s running capacity and statistical output compared well to 173cm Brisbane Lion Taylor.

“You don’t run a 16.1 beep without putting in the work, considering he played in a prelim final a couple of weeks earlier,” he said.

“A 13 beep isn’t good enough for that role, a 16 is elite so we see that as a real point of difference for him.”

Declan Hamilton, nephew of the Andrew and Darren Jarman, has been drafted to the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Tom Huntley

South Australia coach Brenton Phillips said: “Pound for pound he’s the best footballer in the draft”.

“He’s the complete player. His understanding of the game is terrific.”

Daniel has been compared to Brent Harvey but Phillips said the Bulldog was more calculated in his running.

On Hamilton, Phillips said: “It’s a pretty good pedigree”.

“Compared to his uncles he’s a bit of a mixture, with Darren’s smarts around goal and Andrew’s smarts in the midfield in terms of evading and getting through traffic.”

The Dogs pinched Hamilton at pick 39 but considered him at No. 26, which was used on riser Toby McLean.

The high-marking half-forward played seniors at Narre Warren last year and joined Oakleigh Chargers in January after being rejected from Dandenong Stingrays.

“Toby’s one that we’ve liked from the start. From the first game he played for Oakleigh where they didn’t have his number in the record he stood out with his footy smarts,” Dalrymple said.

NEW PUPS

Bulldogs’ chief recruiter Simon Dalrymple on the additions at the Kennel ...

Pick 26: TOBY McLEAN

H: 179cm, W: 72kg)

“He’s got the ability to win the ball in the air, at ground level and he’s got some cunning about him in the way he makes decisions and really good game sense.”

Pick 27: LUKAS WEBB

H: 186cm, W: 80kg

“He’s a beautiful left-foot kick, can win it contested, is really versatile, has good endurance and is a nice size.”

Pick 39: DECLAN HAMILTON

H: 183cm, W: 68kg

“He only had one year at the Magpies after a soccer background and is really creative by hand and foot. He’s slight so will need to put on weight but we think he’ll be a really good AFL player.”

Pick 45: BAILEY DALE

H: 182cm, W: 70kg

“He played senior footy last year in a grand final and he can play half-forward, wing, half-back, has really good endurance … (but) needs to put on some weight.”

Pick 46: CALEB DANIEL

H: 167cm, W: 68kg

“He’s got an outstanding attitude — you don’t run a 16.1 beep at combine without putting in the work, considering he played in a prelim final a couple of weeks earlier.”

Pick 62: ZAINE CORDY

H: 192cm, W: 80kg

“Key defenders are hard to find, as you saw later in the draft clubs were trying to find them and we rated Zaine in the top 25.”