While talk around competition for round one spots has been a feature of the pre-season at the kennel, Caleb Daniel says that it’s the unity around the Club that has made Whitten Oval a special place to be over the summer.

Whether it’s a debate over the first ruck position, or how Tom Liberatore’s return from injury impacts the midfield, Daniel has told told Terry Wallace and Tony Leonard on CrocMedia's SportsDay that while the competition is healthy, it’s all about the team in the lead up to the third and final NAB Challenge match against Collingwood on Saturday.

“Training’s always competitive and always a bit of fun, but the unity around the club is pretty special,” Daniel said.

‘As much as you want it to be yourself, you’re pretty happy with anyone getting a game, and you just strive to do your best and help your teammates. 

“I think that’s the key thing, it’s all about the team.”   

Daniel said that the Club was looking forward to getting back to Etihad Stadium on the weekend to take on the Pies, a place that was a happy hunting ground for the Dogs this time last year, the side emerging 61 point winners in the final NAB Challenge game of 2015.

“It’s our home venue, and it’s the home venue of so many Melbourne clubs, so it’s a pretty important place to be able to play good football, he said.

“We’ve got a nice draw in that our first seven games are at Etihad – we’ve played for some good footy there and we’d like to continue that – and it was this game last year that we took momentum from. 

“Hopefully we can do that again this year.”