Chris25
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- Oct 30, 2007
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Caleb Daniel
Height: 167cm
Weight: 66kg
From: South Adelaide, South Australia
Position: Midfielder, Forward
Height: 167cm
Weight: 66kg
From: South Adelaide, South Australia
Position: Midfielder, Forward
After his last two matches at the U18 Championships, the name on everyone's lips is Caleb Daniel so I figure it's about time I did his profile. For anyone who follows the South Australian U18 scene, nothing about his last two weeks was a surprise. And prior to the Championships, I tipped him to take home MVP honours. Unfortunately, his injury from earlier in the season kept him out of the opening rounds and ultimately the MVP race. But I think it's safe to say he probably would have won, had he played every game.
I'll change things up this time, and start with his weaknesses as a player. And literally the only negative to his game, is the fact that he is 167cm. That's it.
Last year, Daniel started the season in the U18s but quickly worked his way into the South Adelaide league side as a 166cm 16 year old. And he wasn't just making up the numbers, as he finished the league season by playing 10 games and averaging 17 disposals. Unfortunately, he suffered an ankle injury early this season and only made it back onto the park about 6 weeks ago now. And when he did return? Well, his combined two game total of 48 disposals, 13 tackles and a disposal efficiency of around 90% pretty much says it all.
His strengths as a footballer are pretty obvious. And I'll use the SANFL U18 Academy testing results from the start of the year to highlight them. Caleb Daniel finished 1st in the beep test, 5th in the 3km time trial and 5th in the 20m sprint. It's rare that you'll get someone with both the endurance and speed to do that. And it's even rarer when that person is a footballer, not an athlete - as shown by his top 10 finishes in both the handballing and kicking tests. Daniel can run all day, sprint away from the packs and has elite disposal. There is nobody else in this draft that can boast that. And on the park, he is even better. Ball magnet is pretty much the only way of describing him. If he sees the ball, he will inevitably get it - whether he has to go in and win it himself, or run hard to link up on the outside. When he does get the ball, he can pinpoint a short pass or kick it over 50m. And for everyone who uses his size to talk him down, they need to watch him play a lot more. He does not play as though he is 167cm. His ability to stand up in a tackle is Gary Ablett like.
Probably the most pleasing thing for me to come from the Championships, was his form around goals. If I had one question mark on him, it was a lack of a forward game and any player around the 170cm mark will be expected to spend time in a forward pocket. At the start of the year, I would have had Daniel as a midfielder and that's it. But he showed a natural feel for where the goals are, and his tackling pressure as a small forward would be unbelievable at the top level.
So, basically for those who couldn't be bothered reading that, Caleb Daniel is a 167cm version of Gary Ablett and destined to be the #1 pick. Right? Well, no. Obviously his height will hold him back a bit. And it's possible that many recruiters had him as a rookie pick at best coming into the season. But any recruiter who doesn't take note of his Championships performances and start recognising the pure footballing talent should be sacked. Caleb Daniel will not last until the rookie draft. I have no doubts he is top 5 on talent alone, there is nobody with his skill set in this draft. And as a whole, this draft isn't looking great. If someone doesn't pounce in the 3rd round at the absolute latest, I would be very surprised.
Just because there is nobody else his size in the AFL at the moment, it doesn't mean there can't be one. It's just that nobody has ever been as good as Caleb Daniel before.
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