Player Watch #5: Caleb Daniel

[Angak]

It’s shocking to see what’s happened to Daniel’s kicking and general disposal since his standout 2020 and 2021 seasons—where he won the B&F and was one of our best in the losing GF.

Defensively, he was always a liability due to his lack of speed, power, and obviously his height. But we could cover that because he brought so much offensively—smart decision-making and elite ball use. He had this beautiful blend of high-risk kicks with a low turnover rate—the perfect combination.

Since 2021, though, his decision-making and disposal have declined every year. Bevo copped criticism for moving him around, but at times, his form just didn’t warrant selection. The thinking was that shifting positions might help him regain form. In the end, though, his turnovers hurt us too much, and he just wasn’t a regular best 22 player anymore.

If you watch his highlights from his 2020 B&F season you'll think it's different player.

 

[MinistryOfMajak]

Having been at AO yesterday, there's a serious lack of effort from players to make leads or get into space to recieve it from CD.

He scrubbed a few too, so he's not faultless, but JFC some of our boys need to give him some options.

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[shintemaster]

Having been at AO yesterday, there's a serious lack of effort from players to make leads or get into space to recieve it from CD.

He scrubbed a few too, so he's not faultless, but JFC some of our boys need to give him some options.

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It's frustrating because watching live in Rd 2 one of the most notable things was how much running into space players were making when we were trying to pick our way up the field. You simply can't just stand and wait for the ball nowadays.

 

[backtothedraft]

Having been at AO yesterday, there's a serious lack of effort from players to make leads or get into space to recieve it from CD.

He scrubbed a few too, so he's not faultless, but JFC some of our boys need to give him some options.

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Agree there is an element of whats happening up the ground which has made his role harder in the opening weeks. He's been frustrating to watch to start the year. I'd like to see him take the bail out kick down the line a little more often then he has so far this year particularly when we are trying to take some heat out of the game.

 

[shintemaster]

Personally I think Caleb is going okay and the sooner we can find another player - of similar or better attacking skill - to complement him the better.

 

[King Corey]

He comes across as a very committed team player and competitor.

Makes it a bit easier to stomach the errors knowing he's a guy who'd be hard on himself.

 

[Ashley B]

He is doing very well for us thank you. The Dogs have many players who are skilled at the art of kicking the ball , the reason they found him superfluous. He is an upgrade to many of the players we have had kicking it out for us over the last few yrs. Someone’s trash is another one’s treasure they say.

 

[Hojuman]

Having been at AO yesterday, there's a serious lack of effort from players to make leads or get into space to recieve it from CD.

He scrubbed a few too, so he's not faultless, but JFC some of our boys need to give him some options.

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This M.O.M.
Gets a pass and a ✔ from me because he's there, he's got it, he looks up and no-one is presenting as an option.
Think Colby might be suffering from the same as well.

 

[amaz199]

We are very lazy when this guy has the ball.

Boggles the mind.

 

[muttley45]

Needs a few team mates to start seriously waxing with him

 

[Dinkers]

Id rather he missed a risky aggressive kick than what we've served up over the years. Which is hitting opposition players on the tit in what looks almost deliberate.

Harsh crowd around these parts.

 

[Themanbun]

Id rather he missed a risky aggressive kick than what we've served up over the years. Which is hitting opposition players on the tit in what looks almost deliberate.

Harsh crowd around these parts.

I think he'll be good for us my bro, but for example out of 9 disposals in the first quarter on the weekend, none of them could be described as the types that we got him for, and that included a number of kick ins. The only effective kicks he made were barely 15m chips.

It also included 2 mung off the boot turnovers and getting smothered on the kick in, lol.

He's struggling despite the high disposal numbers but I'm backing him to get back to what he's good at.

 

[shinboner magic]

We are very lazy when this guy has the ball.

Boggles the mind.

Quite a few times when he had the ball - you could see up to 6 of his teammates not moving.

 

[Poopybum22]

Will kick an absolute shocker or 3 and then pull off absolute sauce with his next disposal.

Close enough. Welcome back Aaron Hall.

 

[Whippet1]

This guy’s reactions and reflexes are way quicker than everyone else around him. I think we are struggling to adjust to his speed. Also other teams have worked him out a bit over the past 2 seasons. Still think he’s an excellent pickup who will propel us forward once the team gels a bit more.

 

[dus]

He’s been disappointing so far.

Let’s not debate the trade / opportunity cost. It was a shocker but it’s done now.

Trying to go for a bit much with his kicks. Would rather he finds easy options for ball retention and links up for 1/2s.

Needs to eliminate turnovers out of HB obviously. Clean that up and it’ll be ok.

 

[amaz199]

Turnovers are a result of our poor movement ahead of the ball.

 

[Gasometer]

He takes three steps too far and puts himself under pressure to make the impossible handball/kick happen

 

[Daniltchenko You Beauty]

Rewatched some of round two (again). Some of his kicks are just sublime. Not sure the rest of the team know how to handle it yet.

 

[hotchilli]

Turnovers are a result of our poor movement ahead of the ball.

Revert back to the old habit of purely setting up for the long kick down the line too often still.

 

[Better Loosen Up]

Turnovers are a result of our poor movement ahead of the ball.

Yep exactly. At the Bulldogs he had no shortage of team mates leading into space for him. Our guys hardly move at all.

 

[TruRoo]

I'll knock Caleb til the cows come home because of what we paid for him vs what I thought we were getting, but I will admit it is hard to soar like an eagle when you are surrounded by turkeys.

 

[Arathrawn]

You cannot tell me that McKercher or Hardemann couldn't have played his role.

Drank his own bathwater. Not as good a kick as he is being told.

 

[Outtatym]

Turnovers are a result of our poor movement ahead of the ball.

Nah, this is a cop out.

 

[Themanbun]

Has given us 2 quarters out of 16.