Welcome to the Nest, Paul Guicas

Woodend-Hesket Football Netball Club is thrilled to announce the appointment of Paul Guicas as Senior Men's Football Coach for the 2027 season.

Taking the reins from Alistair "Wiz" Rae, Paul inherits a program built on strong foundations - and a legacy at this club that will not be forgotten. Thank you Wiz.

The coaching position attracted a strong and competitive field of candidates - a reflection of the direction this club is heading and the excitement that exists around what we are building at Gilbert Gordon. We are grateful to everyone who put their hand up and went through the process. Ultimately, Paul Guicas stood out as the right person to lead the Hawks into 2027 and beyond.

Paul brings a wealth of coaching experience to the Nest, having spent over 30 years playing and coaching juniors, serving as a Senior Assistant and Reserves coach, and, most recently, spending  four years as Senior Coach at Keilor Park in the Essendon District Football League. During his time there, he built a reputation for developing young players and for his clear, disciplined coaching philosophy.

During his time at Keilor Park, Paul not only oversaw a significant rebuild but also helped create a strong culture within the senior program. Working with a large group of players he brought to the club, alongside the existing playing group and developing young talent, he rebuilt the club’s depth both from within and through external recruitment. This established a team environment built around competitiveness, accountability and belief. That work ultimately culminated in Keilor Park’s 2022 Senior Grand Final victory - an achievement that reflected the culture and foundations Paul had helped establish.

Paul's mantra throughout his time at Keilor Park was simple: "Be competitive every second of every minute, of every quarter of every game, and hate losing." It's a philosophy that aligns perfectly with the direction Woodend-Hesket is heading.

Paul's experience in developing young footballers, creating a strong club culture and building a program from within makes him ideally suited to what lies ahead at the Hawks.

He inherits a quality core group of senior players, a thriving junior pathway producing senior-ready footballers, and a club community that is fully invested in what comes next. The foundations are strong. The ambition is clear.

Welcome to Woodend-Hesket, Paul. We can't wait to get started.

Go Hawks.