Training 2026 Training Reports

[rickety]

He was a good enough fit to play a fair chunk at the Dogs where he was AA and had multiple high B&F finishes. It wasn't that long ago and you can't fluke that type of record.

He's pretty much the same player now - only difference is the Dogs had a gun defence which covered his deficiencies but allowed him to play to his strengths.

Problem is - he's come to a Club that boasts its worse backline in more than 50 years - I'm not kidding. Our defence is putrid and he (not the only one btw) was exposed for all his deficiencies.

I'm not sure we've been the right fit for him but it's laughable some of the players routinely picked ahead of him by posters.

Nah, 29, be 30 during the season, seemed to have lost a yard and lacks kicking penetration. Still footy smart, still applies himself entirely professionally, still a good role model training wise. Is not the future at all. His defensive deficiencies are magnified by our bang average backline. Might probably be the right blueprint for Cooper Harvey, but I would much prefer to watch Harvey go about it than Daniel.

 

[Themanbun]

All this talk about Caleb Daniel, and I get it. I really do. He was a very frustrating player for large portions of last year (although credit where it's due I think he finished the year half-decently).

I don't want to come across as some staunch Caleb Daniel defender.

But the (sad) reality is that, for whatever reason, he simply works harder than a lot of the other players on our list, which basically makes it impossible not to select him.

Those of you who have gone to training at Arden St and watched match sims or full-ground drills will understand what I'm saying, but there's certain players at training who give 100% effort week-in, week-out. And unfortunately, there's a lot of our players, young and old alike, who simply don't. Personally I put this down to absolutely terrible on-field leadership over the last 10~ years, leading to a lazy culture that was allowed to grow like an infection inside our locker-room. Thankfully, new leaders like Harry Sheezel aren't part of that culture and work their guts out every session. But it's a cancer that's going to take a few years to really excise fully from our club, and that's why I strongly preferred Sheezel for Captain over Larkey, because Larkey certainly has some of those negative tendencies at times.

But if you want an example of what I'm talking about, tales129 linked a good video a few days ago in this thread which I'll repost below. Watch how much the other players around Caleb Daniel aren't running their guts out and aren't chasing hard, which allows guys like Daniel to really look fantastic in practice sessions. What does it say if you select the guys who aren't going at 100% in practice over a guy like Daniel who is? How does that fix the culture?

This is a genuinely sad watch. Not one player identifies the main bloody distributor clearly running with intent and looks to block his run or even go with him.

Sheezel and Powell were both really poor at defensive running last year and were both culprits again here.

Be better boys.

 

[shintemaster]

Na. The game has changed and the role in defense Daniel played well for a few years isn't of value anymore. The dogs recognised this and tried him elsewhere without success.
He was cooked before he came to us, we need to move on.

That may very well be true. I'm like Chadwiko on this, I genuinely DGAF about Daniel as the deal is done. He plays or someone better does I couldn't care less to be honest.

All that said this elite Dogs outfit that has it all figured out went backwards in 2025 and have basically been hovering around nowhere for several years. Maybe they don't know what they're doing either.

Nah, 29, be 30 during the season, seemed to have lost a yard and lacks kicking penetration. Still footy smart, still applies himself entirely professionally, still a good role model training wise. Is not the future at all. His defensive deficiencies are magnified by our bang average backline. Might probably be the right blueprint for Cooper Harvey, but I would much prefer to watch Harvey go about it than Daniel.

He's definitely lost a touch of speed. I think he wasn't a great fit in our backline, but not sure too many players that weren't the best 1 on 1 players of the last few decades would be. It was spearheaded by a lifeline player in Pink and Comben (who we were praying could just finish 16+ games the year before).

 

[Chadwiko]

He's definitely lost a touch of speed. I think he wasn't a great fit in our backline, but not sure too many players that weren't the best 1 on 1 players of the last few decades would be. It was spearheaded by a lifeline player in Pink and Comben (who we were praying could just finish 16+ games the year before).

It's enormously difficult (and borderline unfair) to judge anyone in our back six on their individual defensive efforts, because the upfield defensive efforts (especially in transition) are awful and the way the ball comes into our defensive 50 is brutal at times.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Two things can be true here.

Our defensive application is clear bottom four across the list.

Daniel does nothing but exacerbate those issues due to his significant defensive flaws.

 

[DuckYeah]

Two things can be true here.

Our defensive application is clear bottom four across the list.

Daniel does nothing but exacerbate those issues due to his significant defensive flaws.

This is more likely. Application and Tactics. Poor and unacceptable

 

[speedy]

To me, that clip looked like a drill.

A drill? And what would be the purpose of that drill? Make Caleb feel good about himself? Or to mask the atrocity of that trade ever being made?

What’s that old adage? Train as you play.

 

[desie]

He’s here for multiple years and everyone agrees he’s a liability in the backline so the coaches should do their job and find a role for him that benefits rather than detracts.

McKercher is no less putrid defensively but seems to get more of a free pass.

Teams just play through the pair of them.

 

[Passmore]

Pete from AFL ratings knows his target audience. The most views and shares behind Day's injury and some Carlton wank.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

He’s here for multiple years and everyone agrees he’s a liability in the backline so the coaches should do their job and find a role for him that benefits rather than detracts.

McKercher is no less putrid defensively but seems to get more of a free pass.

Teams just play through the pair of them.

Then we had Fisher playing as well.

.

 

[zoomba23]

He’s here for multiple years and everyone agrees he’s a liability in the backline so the coaches should do their job and find a role for him that benefits rather than detracts.

McKercher is no less putrid defensively but seems to get more of a free pass.

Teams just play through the pair of them.

McKercher gets a free pass because he doesn't belong there and has clear and obvious weapons. We've played him there out of necessity, as a result of a laughably imbalanced list management 'strategy,' and I use that word advisedly

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

He’s here for multiple years and everyone agrees he’s a liability in the backline so the coaches should do their job and find a role for him that benefits rather than detracts.

McKercher is no less putrid defensively but seems to get more of a free pass.

Teams just play through the pair of them.

mckercher is playing out of position and is a absolute weapon offensively, little different.

also kerch does cop it a bit around here for his defensive effort.

 

[tales129]

mckercher is playing out of position and is a absolute weapon offensively, little different.

also kerch does cop it a bit around here for his defensive effort.

Teams can carry one of these defensively. Look at Brisbane with Zorko.

We try and play 2 and get torched. I’d absolutely rather Mckercher than Daniel

 

[Passmore]

Teams can carry one of these defensively. Look at Brisbane with Zorko.

We try and play 2 and get torched. I’d absolutely rather Mckercher than Daniel

McKercher off hb gives the opposition something to think about. 30d pg driving the ball deep forward...they're going to have to look at shutting him down. They'd be comfortable with Daniel having the ball.

Nothing will matter though unless we improve defence across the park.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

He’s not a poor player (although the fact he can’t kick more than 45m is a problem) but he’s a poor fit to play in a modern day backline.

His lack of size is a beacon for opposition forward entries. He simply can’t compete aerially or in standing 1v1 contests.

Inability to defend is one thing, but consistently calling for the ball in bad positions when there is no obvious 20-30m outlet kick is beyond frustrating.

You can’t query his footy IQ and his ability to find the footy, but when you weigh it up against his shortcomings (like inability to defend 1 on 1) it hurts our defensive structure more than it helps it.

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

100% spot on.

I genuinely think the Daniel stuff is very overblown. If he is that bad others can and should overtake him with ease. The idea that he is a Lance Picioane level free ticket only to get delisted end of year is so far from reality it devalues valid criticisms.

That's the point though - others (McKercher and Hardeman) have overtaken Daniel 'with ease' and Daniel should not be playing seniors anymore.

The valid point posters are making is the belief that Clarko will still squeeze Daniel into the team even though he is now basically a redundant player.

Clarko invested so much into Daniel's recruitment that to have Daniel playing reserves with 3 years left on his fat contract will make Clarko look silly (which is exactly what posters said at the time of Daniel's recruitment).
.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Teams can carry one of these defensively. Look at Brisbane with Zorko.

We try and play 2 and get torched. I’d absolutely rather Mckercher than Daniel

Exactly.

 

[Chip Scab1]

Na. The game has changed and the role in defense Daniel played well for a few years isn't of value anymore. The dogs recognised this and tried him elsewhere without success.
He was cooked before he came to us, we need to move on.

So much this.

He's an open boom-gate into our defensive half. I can understand him being on the bench and filling in, at a pinch, but to have the entire defensive set-up built around him is just flat-out malpractice.

 

[King Corey]

The curse of the coaches pet strikes again.

Caleb Daniel

5

Caleb Daniel

Age

29

Ht

171cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.3

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.4

4star

D

19.5

4star

K

11.1

4star

HB

8.4

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

CL

1.0

3star

D

16.4

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

9.2

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.2

2star

has ability. He's professional, follows orders and applies himself to his role but inherent issues limit his effectiveness.

When it was pre-existing players like Ziebell or Cunnington in that situation, they were quickly transitioned out.

When it's a coach hand picked purchase though, gotta double down with Syd votes to justify it.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

The curse of the coaches pet strikes again.

Caleb Daniel has ability. He's professional, follows orders and applies himself to his role but inherent issues limit his effectiveness.

When it was pre-existing players like Ziebell or Cunnington in that situation, they were quickly transitioned out.

When it's a coach hand picked purchase though, gotta double down with Syd votes to justify it.

Perfectly put.

Sunk cost justification in full flight.

 

[ferball]

I worry a bit about Larkey moving up the ground as I don’t highly rate his contested marking. Those CHFs who move up the ground I find are best when they are a big contested threat or at least get ball to ground. Otherwise high risk of turnovers

This actually happened last year with Larkey not taking pack marks between wing and hb and the ball turning over in a few games.

 

[ferball]

Once 6-6-6 came to pass, his time as a defender should’ve been called.

Alas, it has not.

Daniel made AA and won a club B&F after 6-6-6 came in.

He was top 4-6 in their B&F every year since except 2024.

i don't think his issues are because of 6-6-6.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Daniel made AA and won a club B&F after 6-6-6 came in.

He was top 4-6 in their B&F every year since except 2024.

i don't think his issues are because of 6-6-6.

It is when he’s not the only non competitive defender.

 

[Zondor]

The curse of the coaches pet strikes again.

Caleb Daniel has ability. He's professional, follows orders and applies himself to his role but inherent issues limit his effectiveness.

When it was pre-existing players like Ziebell or Cunnington in that situation, they were quickly transitioned out.

When it's a coach hand picked purchase though, gotta double down with Syd votes to justify it.

Yup. :stern look

 

[ferball]

It is when he’s not the only non competitive defender.

Yeah fair enough. I think that might change this season tho. I prefer us playing man on man. Its easier to do that and then work up to a zone, or at least work out how to cover for each other, than starting with a complex zone and expecting it to just work.