BEING taught to be a "smart runner" has made all the difference in Western Bulldogs midfielder Caleb Daniel's eye-popping form to begin 2016.

Already blessed with outstanding endurance, the 19-year-old said his work with Bulldogs assistant coaches Joel Corey and Daniel Giansiracusa had made him a much shrewder footballer.

Daniel's 23 disposal-effort against Carlton on Saturday night led to him being adjudged the round four nomination for the NAB AFL Rising Star award.

• Vote for 2016's winner at the NAB AFL Rising Star hub

"When you're younger you're all about running wherever the footy goes and Joel talks about smart running patterns and the way you can influence the game and save your legs by being a smarter runner, and that's helped me out a lot," Daniel told AFL.com.au.

"Gia was one of the best leading forwards in the competition when he was up and going and he's passed a lot of those tips across to me."

Daniel's hot start to the year, in which he has averaged 22.7 disposals per game, has not gone unnoticed by the wider football public.

He took great lessons from his match-up against Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell a fortnight ago, and he has become an instant fan favourite on the back of his gutsy and creative play.

The fact that he is the only existing player to don a helmet adds to the youngster's mystique.

Daniel, who played his junior football for Edwardston Football Club in South Australia, does not see the helmet as a novelty, but rather a vital part of his footballing makeup.

"The helmet's been a part of my kit bag for a very long time now," Daniel said.

"It's like putting your mouthguard in and it does instill a little bit of confidence in my mind when I'm out on the field."

At 168cm, Daniel is the shortest player in the League, but he does not let his short stature stand in his way.

Much of the confidence he has built comes from Brad Gotch, the former Fitzroy rover, who was his coach at SANFL club South Adelaide.

Gotch, who played 96 games for the Lions and St Kilda standing at 166cm, brought the youngster back into the Panthers' senior team, even after a significant ankle injury in his draft year.

"Brad was exceptional for me," Daniel said.

"He instilled that confidence in me that height doesn't matter, so long as you can win the footy and distribute it and he's been a big influence in my career so far."