The Western Bulldogs may have some serious decisions to make relating to their list and salary cap in 2024.
That is according to the Footy Classified panel who have floated the names of a few Bulldogs who aren’t playing regularly for Luke Beveridge this year yet are being paid handsomely.
One of those is 27-year-old Caleb Daniel, who despite playing all four games so far this year under Luke Beveridge, has started as the sub once and been subbed off on another occasion.
AFL Media’s Damian Barrett has suggested that there is likely to be some outside interest in the contracted Daniel who only last year finished fourth in the best and fairest.
“There is a problem of sorts with Caleb Daniel,” Barrett began on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.
“He’s got two years to run on a contact, but he’s clearly in the Jack Macrae bracket now in my eyes as to how Luke Beveridge is choosing to use him.
“Caleb Daniel is a best and fairest winner in 2020, an All-Australian in the same year, on good money, big money, 700-plus, maybe even 750-plus for the remaining two years.
“The party line will be that he’s a contracted player, but there’s going to be interest in him given now twice out of the four games played he’s ended up as the sub (or been the sub).”
"There's going to be interest in him."
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) April 10, 2024
Damian Barrett on contracted Bulldog Caleb Daniel, who has fallen down the pecking order at the kennel. #9FootyClassified | Nine & 9Now 🖥️ pic.twitter.com/syEQ7r0711
Daniel is in a similar boat to fellow All-Australian Jack Macrae, who is contracted until 2027, but has only played twice in 2024 including as the sub who replaced Daniel against Geelong last weekend.
Another out-of-favour Bulldog is Rory Lobb who finds himself running around in the VFL after playing in the senior side in Round 1.
The situation prompted Cats great Jimmy Bartel to forecast that the Dogs may need to make some notable list management decisions this off-season.
“There’s some massive list management decisions with the salary cap,” Bartel added.
“If you name the three players - Daniel, Macrae and even Lobb - that’s $2 million not playing. (The injured) Bailey Smith as well.
“That’s a huge chunk of your salary cap. So they’ve got some massive decisions this year.”
Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd can see there being significant interest in Daniel given his kicking ability primarily off half-back.
“I’m a huge fan of Caleb Daniel,” Lloyd said.
“I think there should be four, five or six clubs (showing interest). Because I think Jack Macrae is an accumulator so you can look at it and go ‘how valuable is he?’.
“But Caleb Daniel, the half-back flankers, you can’t have too many of them.”
Daniel and Macrae are expected to be in Beveridge’s side to take on Essendon at Marvel Stadium this weekend.
The Dogs take a 2-2 record into the crunch Friday night clash.
