Analysis The Disciples of Daniel the Diminutive, elite footballer

[Doggy Dan]

Daniel has improved his defensive ability markedly this year. With his ability to mop up down back and set us up offensively he would be close enough to AA half back flanker at that moment

 

[NthBondiDoggies]

This is the point. Any small Backman can be isolated. Many of the examples of him being out marked would have been the same result for any of our smaller defenders. Against Mason Cox even Cordy looks like a mouse.

He isn’t that he is playing on a larger defender it is just he has elite endurance and reads the play better than most so anticipates and gets to the open player faster. If he doesn’t go it is a mark on an open player with no pressure - any other small Backman (and we do need some) would struggle also. He just has that jack Russell “go any animal no matter the size”. He has also really improved his tackling and is he can keep that going he keeps the pressure on.

We used to talk about JJ more in this way - still happens but focus is on Caleb. Defensively he is rarely beaten by even medium sized forwards in the air.

And now we have teams tagging him - not bad for a player many want to drop or move to a different role.

I can’t recall a game we lose because of his height or even him playing a stinker. But I can recall many games he was in the bests and cut the opposition up.

 

[Next Waiting]

This is the point. Any small Backman can be isolated. Many of the examples of him being out marked would have been the same result for any of our smaller defenders. Against Mason Cox even Cordy looks like a mouse.

He isn’t that he is playing on a larger defender it is just he has elite endurance and reads the play better than most so anticipates and gets to the open player faster. If he doesn’t go it is a mark on an open player with no pressure - any other small Backman (and we do need some) would struggle also. He just has that jack Russell “go any animal no matter the size”. He has also really improved his tackling and is he can keep that going he keeps the pressure on.

We used to talk about JJ more in this way - still happens but focus is on Caleb. Defensively he is rarely beaten by even medium sized forwards in the air.

And now we have teams tagging him - not bad for a player many want to drop or move to a different role.

I can’t recall a game we lose because of his height or even him playing a stinker. But I can recall many games he was in the bests and cut the opposition up.

I've been pleasantly surprised by how many significantly taller players he has been able to spoil, especially around the ground. That takes impeccable timing when you're giving away that much physical advantage.

As you suggest, a lot of small defenders are going to struggle one on one from a quick centre clearance. He's no exception there.

 

[Mattdougie]

This is the point. Any small Backman can be isolated. Many of the examples of him being out marked would have been the same result for any of our smaller defenders. Against Mason Cox even Cordy looks like a mouse.

He isn’t that he is playing on a larger defender it is just he has elite endurance and reads the play better than most so anticipates and gets to the open player faster. If he doesn’t go it is a mark on an open player with no pressure - any other small Backman (and we do need some) would struggle also. He just has that jack Russell “go any animal no matter the size”. He has also really improved his tackling and is he can keep that going he keeps the pressure on.

We used to talk about JJ more in this way - still happens but focus is on Caleb. Defensively he is rarely beaten by even medium sized forwards in the air.

And now we have teams tagging him - not bad for a player many want to drop or move to a different role.

I can’t recall a game we lose because of his height or even him playing a stinker. But I can recall many games he was in the bests and cut the opposition up.

Honest question

Can you recall many games where he plays really well when we lose?

 

[Charlie Bucket]

Honest question

Can you recall many games where he plays really well when we lose?

2019
vs GC
vs Collingwood
vs Carlton
vs Freo
vs North
vs Collingwood

Best on or close to in 5 of those games.

Time to take Scrags advise MD and sit the next few out. You're having another Mare!!

 

[bobs head soup]

Honest question

Can you recall many games where he plays really well when we lose?

It's hard to get Brownlow votes in losing teams, but Caleb did it 3 times last year alone, vs North, West Coast and Collingwood. Racked up 29, 34 & 35 possessions in those games.

 

[Charlie Bucket]

It's hard to get Brownlow votes in losing teams, but Caleb did it 3 times last year alone, vs North, West Coast and Collingwood. Racked up 29, 34 & 35 possessions in those games.

Yep, forgot about the WC game. 34 disposals at 94% efficiency. Was a scary game by him.

Outstanding performances by CD in 7 of the 10 losses he played in last year.

 

[Mattdougie]

Funny how this thread goes silent when we lose

lol well Caleb was ok last night but some of you rate games on one single stats of possessions with zero context so keep thinking he is going to help us contend at HB while I will continue to doubt it.

 

[immortalmike]

Funny how this thread goes silent when we lose

lol well Caleb was ok last night but some of you rate games on one single stats of possessions with zero context so keep thinking he is going to help us contend at HB while I will continue to doubt it.

You don't think he's improved markedly this year MD? I have struggled with him in the role in the past too.

I think he's definitely been better with his defensive nous and core strength. He's much harder to brush aside and players genuinely struggle to move him when he's over the ball. Even his kickouts tend to be smarter with him playing on to get more meters more often than not also.

 

[weltschmerz]

I think if the B&F happened today, he'd be in the top three.

 

[True Dog]

You don't think he's improved markedly this year MD? I have struggled with him in the role in the past too.

I think he's definitely been better with his defensive nous and core strength. He's much harder to brush aside and players genuinely struggle to move him when he's over the ball. Even his kickouts tend to be smarter with him playing on to get more meters more often than not also.

Great call IM, he’s definitely improved his core strength and is a lot harder to move off the ball and embraces contact.. Not sure the defensive liability argument stacks up any more tbh, every team has a balance of defensive and attacking players in there defence. I’d have him in my backline before Saad, McKenna or Fantasia just saying...

 

[Mattdougie]

You don't think he's improved markedly this year MD? I have struggled with him in the role in the past too.

I think he's definitely been better with his defensive nous and core strength. He's much harder to brush aside and players genuinely struggle to move him when he's over the ball. Even his kickouts tend to be smarter with him playing on to get more meters more often than not also.

I’ve never actually said he isn’t good at the role he plays when we win. Never said he isn’t a handy footballer that shouldn’t be in the team.

And honestly I’m not sure if he has improved or it’s the team improving IN SOME GAMES that helps him. In our losses this year he had been poor(as everyone has) and I still don’t think he will work in the backline against the better teams and nothing this year has changed that opinion. They stretch us and he is near useless when isolated.

His tackling has definitely improved but when I see a couple efforts in the Carlton game where he basically gave up a contested mark without trying Ir enforces my opinion.

Hopefully Duryea comes back in and Caleb can play a link role from half way to forwards that we really do lack And I think he would be far more use to a successful finals team

 

[immortalmike]

I’ve never actually said he isn’t good at the role he plays when we win. Never said he isn’t a handy footballer that shouldn’t be in the team.

And honestly I’m not sure if he has improved or it’s the team improving IN SOME GAMES that helps him. In our losses this year he had been poor(as everyone has) and I still don’t think he will work in the backline against the better teams and nothing this year has changed that opinion. They stretch us and he is near useless when isolated.

His tackling has definitely improved but when I see a couple efforts in the Carlton game where he basically gave up a contested mark without trying Ir enforces my opinion.

Hopefully Duryea comes back in and Caleb can play a link role from half way to forwards that we really do lack And I think he would be far more use to a successful finals team

Far enough. Well reasoned post.
Either way I think having him play back there will improve his defensive awareness if he were to move up the ground, which I'd also like to see at some point.

 

[LittleG]

One of our best in a close win.

Was he the difference.... we’ll without him we lose. I wouldn’t say he was BOG but certainly very very good.

 

[weltschmerz]

If the ball's in our backline and one of our defenders gets hold of it, I'd want that defender to be Caleb. His efficiency by foot is consistently great.

 

[maddog37]

His name is The Mop at our place. Soaks up all the spills

 

[bresker]

His name is The Mop at our place. Soaks up all the spills

The headcap is absorbent, and he gets right into awkward corners.

 

[DognBones]

These are some of Caleb Daniel's strengths:
Best reader of the ball in the team
Best wet weather footballer in the team (or at least on a par with Libba)
Best player at ground level in the team (for obvious reasons I admit)
Best deliverer of the ball in the team (with a few stuffups like everyone else)
Best player who can turn a moment of crisis into a positive (perhaps Bont is more spectacular at this)

Would he get a game in all 17 other teams? In my opinion, most definitely.
Will he be beaten in the air occasionally by taller opponents? Of course, but nowhere near as much as one would think from a player his size.
Is he one of the first players picked each week when the match committee sit down for team selection? Absolutely, in the top 8 at least IMO.
We can debate his worth until the cows come home but Daniel is an integral part of our team and should get the kudos he deserves.

 

[charcoalchicken]

This guy is an absolute gun, best user of the footy at the dogs by a mile, love him.

 

[Next Waiting]

He has embraced his left foot. I'm happy now.

 

[Deadly Darcy]

Not my favourite on our list but he was bloody good today! Kudos to him - his reading of the play was just elite

 

[charcoalchicken]

Not my favourite on our list but he was bloody good today! Kudos to him - his reading of the play was just elite

Dunno if we are watching the same player, he’s one of my favs and a top 5 player on our list imo, ball use elite

 

[lachy]

I always find it interesting that if anyone questions Calebs weaknesses deep back they are in someway questioning either his ability or worth to the team.

I still.don't like him deep back

Caleb is an exceptional footballer. High back through mid he is becoming one of the the best in the league. I still would love him more mid forward now, its not a negative, he is becoming that good

On SM-G975F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[ScragCity]

Anyone who doesn't love Caleb needs to give themselves an uppercut.

 

[Deadly Darcy]

Dunno if we are watching the same player, he’s one of my favs and a top 5 player on our list imo, ball use elite

Not saying he can’t play - just prefer watching Bont, the emergence of English, Naughton and a few others. He’s a good player but he played out if his skin today. Hope he does the same next week as Freo are gunna be a bloody tough match up for our undersized backline....