VFL 2019: Novak Djokovic’s ex-hitting partner Daniel Guccione an ace recruit for Essendon VFL
Novak Djokovic’s former hitting partner has been earmarked as a potential AFL talent after joining Essendon’s VFL list.
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The cousin of former tennis ace Chris Guccione has been earmarked as a potential AFL talent after joining Essendon’s VFL list.
Daniel Guccione, who has been a hitting partner for some of the biggest tennis stars including Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios, has earned a VFL contract after being a standout during pre-season with the Bombers.
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The 194cm defensive prospect, who has played 26 games with Northern Football League club Bundoora in the past three years, took out Essendon’s VFL time trial.
“He’s obviously a really good athlete in terms of his background and where he has come from,” Bombers VFL coach Dan Jordan said.
“He’s 194cm, runs really well and gets around the ground really well. It’s just basically the positioning.
“We are trying to train him up as a key defensive post. He hasn’t played a lot there with Bundoora.
“He’s played a bit of wing and a bit forward. But we think he’s got some attributes that he could turn into a solid key defender for us.
“We know he’s got a bit to go in terms of his football development, but athletically he’s got some traits that fit the mould and recruiters look for.”
Jordan said Guccione, who reached a career-high tennis world ranking of 1207 in 2015, had shown “promising signs”.
Guccione is one of two new Bombers signed after recommendations from former Bundoora coach Ricky Dyson, who has joined Essendon as a VFL assistant coach.
The Bombers have also added defender Dale Marshall, a premiership player in 2017, to their VFL squad.
“He recognised those two as a couple who he thought could potentially progress to VFL level,” Jordan said.
Bundoora coach Andrew Sturgess said Guccione was “quite raw” but had the athletic traits to succeed in the VFL.
“I think his athleticism will allow him to perform well at the level,” Sturgess said.
He said Guccione’s “game awareness” would be his biggest area for improvement.
“He has only played Aussie rules footy for, I think, four years,” Sturgess said.
“He’s actually quite raw and still learning the game in many ways.”
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