By Tara Murray
New Keilor Park coach Paul Guicas knows he has a challenge ahead of him to help the club rise off the bottom of the Essendon District Football League division 2 ladder.
While the Devils failed to get a win this year, the year was still seen as a victory after not having a team the year before.
With 12 months under their belts, the Devils are looking to take a step up under Guicas.
Guicas joins the Devils from East Keilor, where he coached the reserves side to the division 1 grand final.
Guicas said knowing the area and having played against them, he wanted to help the club continue its rebuild.
“It is going to be a challenge,” he said.
“I don’t like seeing them where they are at. They are at the bottom of the ladder in division 2.
“The only way is up the ladder and we want to do it the right way.”
Guicas said there had been a lot of positive reaction since the announcement had been made.
He said they would look to help make the side more competitive.
Several people have already reached out to Guicas about coming down and playing.
“It’s early days yet, but I have a list of about 30 players I want to speak to,” he said.
“I’ve got meetings every day this week.
“I’m working hard to get some quality players into the club to help build it back up again and have a successful season.
While looking to get some outside help into the team, Guicas said it was really important to make sure they don’t forget the players who helped get the team back up and running.
He is full of praise for those who turned up week in, week out this year.
“They will be my first call,” he said.
“They are the ones we want here. I’m not going to dictate and not care about the Keilor Park boys, it’s one club.”
With new recruits and 14 under-19s aging out into senior football, the club is keen to get a reserves side up and going again after not having one the last two years.
Guicas said with the current numbers they were looking at, it looked like that would be possible.
Keilor Park will hold a meet the coaches day on October 20.
Guicas said this season was about moving forward.
“I’m really excited about getting to put together a squad and doing it properly and work our way up.
“My mantra is to be competitive in every second, in every minute, every quarter and every game.
“If they give 100 percent all I can ask for.”
