Daniel Giansiracusa Biography

David Noble is named North Melbourne coach for 2021, winning a three-way race that included Collingwood assistant Robert Harvey and new Essendon assistant Daniel Giansiracusa.

Just a week after winning the AFL Coaches' Association Assistant Coach of the Year award, Daniel Giansiracusa joins Essendon as an assistant coach under head coach Ben Rutten in preparation for the 2021 season.

Giansiracusa has spent the last 21 seasons with the Bulldogs, of which 15 were served as a 265-game and a further six were spent as an assistant coach having immediately transitioned into the role after the 2014 season.

Daniel Giansiracusa has been appointed as coach the Bulldogs' VFL side in 2019.

"As part of his coaching pathway, it is important for Gia to coach his own senior team," Bulldogs senior coach Luke Beveridge said.

"The timing is now right for him, and for the club, to provide the support he needs to help us be successful at both AFL and VFL level."

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge reassigns responsibilities among his assistants ahead of the 2017 season.

Steven King has moved from midfield to defensive coach, Joel Corey has stepped up from stoppages to midfield, forward coach Daniel Giansiracusa has taken over stoppages, reigning VFL premiership coach Ashley Hansen is now in charge of the Dogs attack, and defensive coach Rohan Smith has become the head of development.

Already blessed with outstanding endurance, Caleb Daniel says his work with Bulldogs assistant coaches Joel Corey and Daniel Giansiracusa had made him a much shrewder footballer.

"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 said.

"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 Giansiracusa says he is excited about starting his coaching career once his playing career ends.

"I want to be a senior coach down the track. Whatever that pathway is, I'm just happy to sink my teeth into whatever it is and really hit the ground running," Giansiracusa said.

Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney says retiring Daniel Giansiracusa will be a great asset to the club when he moves into a coaching role next year.

"He'll leave no stone unturned, quite clearly his best attribute aside from his competitiveness is he never stops learning," McCartney said.

"He's so open to getting better and listening and bringing new ways of doing things and he'll bring that to his coaching.

"He'll be a roaring success, I have no doubt."

Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney says Daniel Giansiracusa will not be played as a substitute in the final AFL game of his career against GWS in round 23.

"We want to send 'Gia' off the right way. It's really important we send off people that have given so much great service to our club the right way," McCartney said.

"We had a period during the year where he wasn't playing in the team and we were putting a lot of game time and experience into our younger players, and history shows you that they can struggle to get through a full year.

"So he's come back at the end and he's buzzing around there a bit today, and I think you'll see him at his best next week."

Daniel Giansiracusa says he would be happy to play as a regular substitute this season, as he did at times in 2013, after making the surprise decision to extend his career into a 14th year.

"I'm sure I'll play it again at times … I actually enjoyed it as an older guy," he said.

"When you come on and everyone else is cooked and you feel fresh, it actually made me look quick at times I think."

Daniel Giansiracusa will play on in 2014 after signing a one-year contract extension and will move into a coaching role in 2015.

Giansiracusa will play his 250th game against Melbourne this week and is currently leading the club's goalkicking with 34 goals from 19 games.

"On top of an impressive season where he leads the club in goalkicking, Daniel has been a great leader and mentor to our developing group," Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney said.

"Daniel's experience and astute football knowledge make him a respected member of our football club and we look forward to seeing him continue to contribute both on and off the field into the future."

31-year old Daniel Giansiracusa says he is still undecided about retirement.

"I'm enjoying trying to get my body right each week," Giansiracusa said.

"We'll deal with that when it happens at the end of the year, but I'll definitely stay involved in footy. I love the game, and it's given so much to me, and hopefully I can give a bit back as my life goes on."

Daniel Giansiracusa says he still has the drive to continue playing next year.

"You take one game and one season at a time, and probably one pre-season more than anything because they're quite demanding. But if the body feels good and there's a role for me, maybe I could," he said.

"I still love the game, still love training, and still love running out there with my teammates. It still gives me a real buzz. That's never left me, and hopefully it never does."

Daniel Giansiracusa agrees to a new deal with the Western Bulldogs.

The Western Bulldogs have named Matthew Boyd as captain of the club as well as two deputies to support him in Adam Cooney and Daniel Giansiracusa who will serve as vice-captains.