Daniel Venables
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Daniel Venables
| image =
| caption=
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|11|19|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = Western Jets (TAC Cup)
| draftpick = No. 13, 2016 national draft
| debutdate = Round 1, 2018
| debutteam = {{AFL WC}}
| debutopponent = {{AFL Syd}}
| debutstadium = Optus Stadium
| height = 187 cm
| weight = 83 kg
| position = Midfielder
| years1 = 2017–2021
| club1 = {{AFL WC}}
| games_goals1 = 21 (11)
| statsend = 2021
| careerhighlights = *AFL premiership player: 2018
}}
Daniel Venables (born 19 November 1998) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was the youngest member of the Eagles' 2018 premiership side.
Junior career
Venables originally represented Keilor Football Club and his school Penleigh and Essendon Grammar. Throughout his junior career, he mainly played as a midfielder or forward.{{Cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-11-13/tomorrows-heroes-daniel-venables-the-dynamic-playmaker-that-could-be-anything|title=Tomorrow's heroes: Daniel Venables, the great grandson of a Hall of Famer|last=Guthrie|first=Ben|date=13 November 2016|work=afl.com.au|access-date=9 November 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/daniel-venables-top-of-western-jets-class-ahead-of-afl-national-draft/news-story/b023fd972816d0117695c97bb0d8f7db|title=Daniel Venables top of Western Jets' class ahead of AFL National Draft|last=D'Anello|first=Luke|date=23 November 2016|work=Maribyrnong Leader|access-date=9 November 2018}} In 2015, he played for Vic Metro in the 2015 under-16 national championships, breaking his leg against South Australia in the opening game after landing awkwardly in a marking contest. The same year, Venables had surgery on his shoulder. In 2016, he was named in the under-18 All-Australian side after a strong performance for Vic Metro in the national championships. Venables kicked six goals over four matches while averaging 13 disposals, 5.5 tackles and 6.3 contested possessions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/daniel-venables-on-how-a-broken-leg-in-2015-steeled-his-resolve-ahead-of-this-years-national-draft/news-story/62f123950feaf7a692fef2a7c4870d50|title=Daniel Venables on how a broken leg in 2015 steeled his resolve ahead of this year's national draft|last=Beveridge|first=Riley|date=19 November 2016|website=Fox Sports Australia|language=en-AU|access-date=9 November 2018}} He played three TAC Cup games for the Western Jets, limited by school football duties. Venables was unable to test at the AFL Draft Combine due to a foot injury, but was still considered a likely first-round pick at the upcoming 2016 national draft.
AFL career
Venables was drafted by West Coast with their first selection and thirteenth overall in the 2016 national draft.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/edfl/keilor-produces-another-afl-player-with-daniel-venables-chosen-by-west-coast-at-pick-no13-in-2016-afl-national-draft/news-story/1bf58fd1a1a54e192d30714ba9404e4a|title=Keilor produces another AFL player with Daniel Venables chosen by West Coast at pick No.13 in 2016 AFL National Draft|last=Michell|first=Tim|date=25 November 2016|work=Maribyrnong Leader|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=26 March 2018}} His foot injury prevented him from participating in the 2017 preseason, but he recovered in time for a March reserves match with West Coast's West Australian Football League (WAFL) affiliate East Perth.{{cite news |last1=Dickinson |first1=Rhys |title=Venables eager to play "free footy" |url=http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2017-04-10/venables-on-the-build |access-date=10 November 2018 |work=westcoasteagles.com.au |date=10 April 2017}} At the start of the 2017 WAFL season, Venables was restricted to reserves matches on limited minutes, but built up form and played eight league games, averaging over one goal and 13 disposals. He was about to play his first AFL match against the Geelong Cats in round 13, but suffered turf toe in training,{{cite news |last1=Dickinson |first1=Rhys |title=Fit Venables ready to fire |url=http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2017-12-07/fit-venables-ready-to-fire |access-date=10 November 2018 |work=westcoasteagles.com.au |date=7 December 2017}} ruling him out for the season.{{cite news |last1=Lacy |first1=Bridget |title=First-round pick Daniel Venables to resume hunting an Eagles debut |url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/west-coast-eagles/first-round-pick-daniel-venables-to-resume-hunting-an-eagles-debut-ng-b88664142z |access-date=10 November 2018 |work=The West Australian |date=18 November 2017}} Nevertheless, Venables extended his contract in July by two years (until 2020).{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Travis |title=Eagles lock in talented mid with new deal |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-19/eagles-lock-down-talented-mid-with-new-deal |access-date=10 November 2018 |work=afl.com.au |date=19 July 2017}} He made his debut in the opening round of the 2018 AFL season in a twenty-nine point loss to {{AFL Syd}} at Perth Stadium.{{cite news|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/west-coast-eagles/west-coast-eagles-to-blood-three-debutants-for-first-time-since-1996-ng-b88784243z|title=West Coast Eagles to blood three debutants for first time since 1996|last=Robinson|first=Chris|date=23 March 2018|work=The West Australian|publisher=Seven West Media|access-date=26 March 2018}} Venables played four games before injuring his ankle against Gold Coast.{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Travis |title=Eagles brace for another lower leg injury |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-04-16/eagles-brace-for-yet-another-forward-in-rehab |access-date=10 November 2018 |work=afl.com.au |date=16 April 2018}} He was kept out for two months,{{cite news |last1=Stocks |first1=Gary |title=Venables facing long injury layoff |url=http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2018-04-17/venables-facing-long-injury-layoff |access-date=10 November 2018 |work=westcoasteagles.com.au |date=17 April 2018}} and played another eight games before his first AFL final against Collingwood,{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Travis |title=Finals nerves no worries for young Eagle |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-03/venables |access-date=10 November 2018 |work=afl.com.au |date=3 September 2018}} where he recorded seven tackles.{{cite news |last1=Ramsey |first1=Michael |title=AFL grand final 2018: Pressure key for West Coast Eagles rookie Daniel Venables |url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/west-coast-eagles/afl-grand-final-2018-pressure-key-for-west-coast-eagles-rookie-daniel-venables-ng-b88975647z |access-date=10 November 2018 |work=Australian Associated Press |date=28 September 2018}} Venables impressed against Melbourne in the preliminary final, accumulating 17 disposals and kicking a goal.{{cite news |last1=Black |first1=Sarah |title=Eagles' Grand Final debutants hold no fear |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-28/eagles-grand-final-debutants-hold-no-fear |access-date=10 November 2018 |work=afl.com.au |date=28 September 2018}} He was part of West Coast's premiership side, but had little impact on the Grand Final, recording only three disposals.{{cite news |last1=Guthrie |first1=Ben |title=Every Eagle rated from the Grand Final |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-29/every-eagle-rated-from-the-grand-final |access-date=10 November 2018 |work=afl.com.au |date=29 September 2018}}
During Round 9 of the 2019 season, Venables suffered a severe concussion in the match versus Melbourne in which his head hit the hip of opponent Tim Smith during a marking contest, and despite being on the clubs list for both the 2020 and 2021 season, he formally announced his retirement due to the ongoing symptoms.
Statistics
:Statistics are correct to the end of round 9, 2019{{Cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/D/Daniel_Venables.html|title=AFL Tables - Daniel Venables - Stats - Statistics|website=afltables.com|access-date=2019-05-07}}
{{AFL player statistics legend}}
{{AFL player statistics start}}
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
|style="text-align:center;background:#afe6ba;"|2018†
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL WC}}
| 18 || 15 || 9 || 9 || 75 || 69 || 144 || 42 || 38 || 0.6 || 0.6 || 5.0 || 4.6 || 9.6 || 2.8 || 2.5
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2019
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL WC}}
| 18 || 6 || 2 || 1 || 27 || 29 || 56 || 18 || 16 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 4.5 || 4.8 || 9.3 || 3.0 || 2.7
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 21 !! 11 !! 10 !! 102 !! 98 !! 200 !! 60 !! 54 !! 0.5 !! 0.5 !! 4.9 !! 4.7 !! 9.5 !! 2.9 !! 2.6
|}
Personal life
Venables is the grandson of North Melbourne footballer Fred Robinson and the great-grandson of Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee Johnny Lewis. Venables became engaged to Nine News Perth weather presenter Scherri-Lee Biggs in December 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-24 |title=Former Eagle, Miss Universe confirm ENGAGEMENT |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/west-coast-eagles/former-west-coast-eagle-daniel-venables-and-scherri-lee-biggs-announce-engagement-c-9263530 |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=PerthNow |language=en}} The couple have a daughter, born in February 2024.{{Cite web |last=Renouf |first=Taylor |date=9 February 2024 |title=Former AFL star & TV host welcome baby, reveal adorable name |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/former-west-coast-eagles-player-daniel-venables-and-channel-9-presenter-scherri-lee-biggs-welcome-daughter-c-13533594 |access-date=11 February 2024 |website=PerthNow |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Wceplayer}}
- {{AFL Tables}}
- {{AustralianFootball}}
- {{WAFL FootyFacts}}
{{2018 West Coast Eagles premiership players}}
{{2016 AFL national draft}}{{2021 AFL Rookie Draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Venables, Daniel}}
Category:West Coast Eagles players
Category:West Coast Eagles premiership players
Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
Category:Keilor Football Club players
Category:West Coast Eagles (WAFL) players
Category:East Perth Football Club players
Category:People educated at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School