The Demons’ mentor and Box Hill Hawks Head of Development has reportedly been appointed coach of a Young Guns squad at Williamstown this Saturday, one containing a bevy of talented under-19 players hoping to push their case for higher honours in competition against a VFL under-22 side.
Introduced as another avenue in the AFL talent pathway ahead of the Mid-Season Draft, promising young guns and VFL players will be allowed the opportunity to showcase their skillset when they go head-to-head in an Anzac Day curtain raiser to the Williamstown and Werribee clash.
Cucinotta was appointed to his new role at the Hawks ahead of the 2026 season, and underscoring his ever-expanding coaching credentials was a smattering of praise from new coach David Mirra during pre-season.
“We added Jesse Cucinotta as our Head of Development, and he’s been outstanding in that role so far,” Mirra said.
“[He’s] brought some great initiatives, and he’s been awesome to have at the track with training too.”
Cucinotta, also into his second season as an on-field Demons coach, has led his side to a 2-1 start to begin the Goulburn Valley League season.
Meanwhile, another Shepparton United export is taking to the West Australian Football League like a duck to water.
Kade Chalcraft made the journey across the Nullarbor to join brother Jye at Swan Districts and has wasted no time settling in at Steel Blue Oval, showcasing the skill set that netted him last year Goulburn Valley League MVP award in a 22-point win over West Perth in round three.
Chalcraft collected 22 disposals and laid five tackles in the Swans’ first win of the WA State league season, following on from a 17-disposal showing against East Perth in round two.
It’s a solid start to life out West for the former Geelong VFL and Murray Bushrangers star, already installing himself as a key component of the black and white engine room.
Back in Victoria, Riley Onley has made a switch into the Casey Demons back half in his mission to crack into Melbourne’s AFL outfit.
Onley collected 15 disposals and four marks in the Demons’ defeat to Brisbane.
“Riley played a new role in defence and adapted well,” Casey coach Rhett McLennan said.
“He showed strong instincts and used his athleticism to impact contests.
“His offence and ball use improved as the game went on.”
