Caleb Daniel was this week’s shock selection call at the Bulldogs, with the former All-Australian omitted by coach Luke Beveridge.
He has had a strange season to date, being on the fringe of the side coming into the season, serving as the sub in the AAMI Community Series.
Daniel has been thrown around across half back, wing and on-ball. He found himself subbed out in Gather Round and has since been dropped.
AFL Media reporter Josh Gabelich provided the latest on the situation.
“He’s just lost a position across the pre-season,” Gabelich told SEN’s Sportsday.
“From what I can understand from the Caleb Daniel camp is there is some frustration because part of it is he has been moved around a lot in the last 12 months.
“He came fourth in the best and fairest last year. It’s not like he didn’t have a good year last year.
“I don’t think he’s played VFL since back in 2015 during his debut season.”
Daniel is contracted until the end of 2026, but Kane Cornes believes he would be a perfect fit at Adelaide next year for a number of reasons.
“I’m looking at Adelaide and I watched them live from the venue last week and I see them kick 36 points against Fremantle the week before and they cannot move the ball off half back,” Cornes said.
“This is perfect. He’s a South Australian, he’s from South Adelaide, All-Australian half back, settle him down in a position, play him across half back for the next three to four years and get Adelaide going with his ball movement from half back.
“That surely makes sense. Adelaide has been incredibly aggressive. They enquired about Clayton Oliver – whether you believe they offered Errol Gulden 10 years, that was reported last night, they’re right into Harrison Petty.
“It feels like they’re in the mix for more senior players and not just the draft. That one just makes sense to me.”
Daniel has played 180 career games for the Dogs since debuting in 2015.
