LUKE Beveridge knew he had a problem when Sam Mitchell was having too much influence during the opening quarter of last weekend's thrilling battle against Hawthorn.
It's a scenario most coaches have faced, but in a typically attacking approach, Beveridge entrusted Caleb Daniel - a player with just 13 AFL games to his name - to go head-to-head with one of the competition's most damaging midfielders.
Not only did the 19-year-old limit Mitchell's influence, he won plenty of the ball, and got the Bulldogs back in the game after a goalless opening term.
"It's a feather in my cap to be given such a role, it was good fun and I loved the challenge of it," Daniel told AFL.com.au.
"'Bevo' really trusted me in that role and it's something I really enjoyed and was excited about."
In a finals-like atmosphere, Daniel played his best game for the club, picking up a career-high 29 possessions, while limiting Mitchell to season-low 29 touches.
In an enthralling contest, Beveridge and Alastair Clarkson believed the youngster had the better of the three-time All Australian, giving Daniel five AFLCA votes to Mitchell's two.
Despite the Dogs' three-point loss, Daniel took plenty more away from the game and was unlucky to miss out on a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.
"I've looked up to Sam Mitchell for a fair chunk of my life because he's a pretty good footballer," Daniel, who is averaging 22 disposals per game in 2016, said.
"I learnt just how smart he is with running patterns and how he distributes the ball.
"I've tried to model my ball use on him by being able to use both sides because he better than everyone with that.
"There's no area he can't kick it to as he kicked some crazy passes around the body, and he has exceptional vision."
It was a good afternoon for the Dogs' little men, with Luke Dahlhaus also having his best game for the season and picking up a game-high eight coaches' votes.
Daniel said the dynamic playmaker had been a major inspiration in his short time at Whitten Oval.
"We're not overly blessed with height Lukey and I," Daniel said.
"It's good he's getting hands on it for the team and for us little blokes around the League because we can see someone short and not daunted by height factor."
And while Dahlhaus attracted cult figure status when he arrived at the club sporting dreadlocks, the 19-year-old South Australian dismissed talk he was approaching the same popularity due to his diminutive statue and trademark helmet.
"I guess the crowd is starting to get around me a little bit, but it's probably more on the back of the team's performance," Daniel said.
"I don't think it's too much different with me than Marcus Bontempelli, Luke Dahlhaus, Jakey Stringer or Bob Murphy.
"I wouldn't say I'm a cult figure just yet."
