Former Australian Institute of Sport tennis academy member Daniel Guccione is the latest player to sign with Essendon VFL for 2019. 

The cousin of national tennis player Chris Guccione, and a hitting partner at times for superstar Novak Djokovic, Nick Kygrios and most recently Milos Raonic during this year’s Australian Open, most of Guccione’s life has been spent on a tennis court.

Restricted by his tennis commitments, which included training every day, it wasn’t until 2016 that the 23-year-old took to football with Bundoora in the Northern Football League.

“I picked up my first racquet when I was four years old, and played tennis right up until I was 19,” Guccione said.

“I took 10 months off and that’s when I started playing footy with Bundoora; I signed up for a pre-season out of nowhere and just went from there.”

Guccione balanced tennis with football the following year, but found the juggle difficult.

“I went back to tennis a bit that second year at Bundoora, and did a bit of both (sports) which was tough, but at the end of that season I decided I just didn’t love tennis anymore," he said.

Having played a bit on the wing and up forward, the 194cm recruit arrives at The Hangar as a prospective defender.

“He runs really well and is a good athlete in terms of his background,” senior coach Dan Jordan told the Herald Sun.

“We think he’s got some attributes that could turn him into a solid key defender for us.”


Daniel Guccione on the track during Essendon VFL's pre-season. (Photo: Essendon Football Club)

Guccione believes the time he spent playing tennis gives him a bit of an edge on the footy oval.

“(Playing tennis) you have to be really agile and court-smart. You need to have good awareness.

“Most guys my height probably can’t move as quick as me, so in terms of the agility side I’ve probably got that.

“The on-court awareness of playing tennis and anticipating where the opponent is going to be or where the opponent is going to play the ball - I feel that helps me in footy as well.”

With 26 senior matches from three seasons to his name, Guccione recognises his knowledge of the game is something he wants to improve.

“I don’t have a lot of experience (playing footy) compared to most of these other guys, who have probably been playing footy the same time I have been playing tennis.

“It’s about learning the game a little bit more. I feel like athletically I’m there but it’s just the knowledge of the game (I’m still working on).”

Guccione joins fellow new signings Kurt Aylett (Werribee), Ray Connellan (St Kilda), Liam McKenna (Perth Demons) and Jacob Atley (Bendigo Pioneers), while 2018 players Aaron Heppell, Heath Hocking, Nino Lazzaro, Edyn Sibbald, Jake McQueen, Wilson Berry and Danny Younan have been re-signed.

More new recruits will be announced in the coming weeks as the Bombers finalise their 2019 VFL squad.

Brooke Varney is in the final year of her Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) degree at RMIT University. As part of their strategic partnership, Essendon Football Club and RMIT University are committed to providing opportunities for students, staff, players and the wider community.