Paul Hood will take the reigns as the inaugural coach of the Geelong Cats team that will enter the VFL Women’s League for the first time in 2017.
 
“This is a great venture that the club has undertaken to grow women’s football in the region,” Hood said.
 
“We had some involvement with the Geelong Magpies last season, and you could see first-hand the passion, enthusiasm and determination that the players had. We will be helping young women to achieve their dreams as players, and we want everyone that is part of this to fulfil their potential as players.
 
“One of the first steps is that talent identification day at Deakin University, and we encourage everyone that is interested to come down and go through the day.”
 
Hood, who has previous senior coaching experience with the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup and the Cats men’s VFL team, will take on the key role. Hood enjoyed a decorated playing career. He won the 1995 Morrish Medal as the TAC Cup’s best player, and played VFL football with Geelong and North Ballarat. Hood then enjoyed a long playing career in the GFL with St Joseph’s before venturing into coaching.
 
Hood will be joined by three assistant coaches in Natalie Wood, Julian Owens and David Morgan.
 
Wood, a 10 time Victorian representative, was a highly decorated player premiership player, who played with Darebin and Melbourne University in the VFL and with the Western Bulldogs in their early battles with Melbourne. During her playing career that spanned close to 200 games, Wood earned three All Australian selections, multiple premierships and two best & fairests.
 
Owens, works at Federation University in Ballarat, and has a long involvement in local football, both junior and senior. Morgan also has a strong involvement across Torquay and St Joseph’s.
 
The Cats will be holding a talent identification day for interested players.
 
The Geelong Cats Women’s Football Talent ID Day will be held at Deakin University Elite Sports Precinct, Athletics Track, Pidgons Road, Waurn Ponds, on Saturday 12 November 2016.
 
Online Registrations are open now and close on Friday 4 November 2016. However places are limited and once the registrations are full the registration will close.
 
For further information or to register click here.