With the 2021 NAB AFL Draft over a week away, we’re looking back at Caleb Daniel’s draft journey.
All-Australian defender, Charles Sutton Medallist, Premiership player.
These are just some of the accolades Caleb Daniel has achieved since being drafted to the Kennel in 2014.
Taken with the Bulldogs’ fifth selection at pick number 46, Daniel started his AFL career as a midfielder-forward.
The South Adelaide and Edwardstown product managed 10 games in 2015, undergoing some minor knee surgery at the start of the year before debuting as the substitute in round 14 against Carlton.
Activated at half-time, the then 19-year-old made a strong first impression in his maiden appearance - collecting 14 disposals, five marks and one goal in the win.
Daniel went onto play 24 of a possible 26 games in 2016, including all four finals, and was named one of the Bulldogs’ best on ground in the elimination final win over West Coast with 33 touches.
He played a key role in the drought-breaking flag, while his efforts across the year saw him finish runner-up in the 2016 AFL Rising Star award.
Transitioning into a full-time role in defence in 2019, Daniel has since built a reputation as one of the competition’s best kicks and decision-makers.
He enjoyed some career-best form last year, earning a maiden All-Australian blazer and claiming his first Charles Sutton Medal, while also notching up game 100 in round nine.
Daniel missed just one match (suspension) this year, taking his overall tally to 134 games, and managed 14 outings with at least 25 touches or more.
He ranked in Champion Data’s elite category for average disposals (25.2) and contested possessions (7.4), and notched up a season-high 37 disposals in the Grand Final.
