Western Bulldogs’ utility Caleb Daniel says the club’s selection decisions have put the “older players on notice” after he returned to the starting line-up against Gold Coast following the surprising call to make him sub in round one.
The best and fairest winner and premiership player showed his class, picking up 18 possessions and using the ball well in the win over the Suns, but said he and other veterans at the club understood their positions were no longer guaranteed.
Caleb Daniel fights for the ball with typical ferocity on Sunday against Gold Coast’s Nick Holman.Credit: Getty Images
“We have got to work our arse off to make the team and then stick in it,” Daniel said after the Dogs, inspired by Cody Weightman’s six goals, scored a comfortable win over the Suns in Ballarat, 18.7 (115) to 10.7 (67)
Daniel said he didn’t get too disappointed about being chosen as the sub in round one because he was prepared to do whatever the team required. He simply steeled himself to make an impact when he came on the ground, which he did with 12 touches in less than a half against Melbourne.
Daniel and Holman continue tussling for the ball.Credit: Getty Images
“It’s a challenging thing as an older player, but it’s great that there is so much depth,” Daniel said.
“When I came on I really wanted to have an impact. I just tried my guys out to do what I could for the team.
“I’m 100 per cent in on what the coaching staff is striving for and what we’re striving for as a team. The older guys have been put on notice a bit and the young guys are playing their role and playing good footy.”
Beveridge said such calls were always difficult, but it was important to reward pre-season form to maintain selection integrity. He said it was critical the Bulldogs did not overreact to their round-one loss, and it was important they rely on the evidence they had built up over the pre-season in their decision-making.