Season in short:
Recruited with pick number 46 in the 2014 national draft, Caleb Daniel silenced critics who said the 167-centimetre forward may have been too short to play AFL football.
While minor knee surgery delayed his start to the year, Daniel forced his way into the side in round 14 for his senior debut.
Starting as the substitute, Daniel came into the game at half time and picked up 14 disposals, five marks and one goal.
He averaged 16 disposals from his first five AFL games and his attack on the football and ball use made up for his lack of height.
Finishing the year with 10 senior games, Daniel was a member of the Bulldogs’ elimination final side and was also the Club’s nominee in the AFLPA Best First Year Player award.
Stat that mattered:
Daniel finished ninth among the game’s rising stars in goal assists per game.
What they said:
“It’s been awesome… The knee hiccup didn’t serve me too greatly but it was still good to show that resilience and experience that early… As a first year player being able to play in a final, I really couldn’t ask for anything more.” – Caleb Daniel, September 2015
“He’s a smart little player Caleb. We loved having him into our footy club and he had a big pre-season. After he got over the knee he had a bit of an impact in the back half of the year… He’s crafty around goal, great hands and poise and he connects well inside 50 so we’ll be looking for him to improve that again over the pre-season.” – Daniel Giansiracusa (Western Bulldogs Assistant Coach), September 2015
