GEELONG has confirmed Paul Hood will coach its AFL Women's team in 2019.    

The Cats and North Melbourne will field teams in the NAB AFLW competition from next year.    

Hood has been coaching Geelong's VFLW team and led the team to eight wins last season.    

"I'm really excited to continue in the role as Geelong's women's coach," Hood said.    

"The growth of women's football in the Geelong region has been outstanding over the last two years and I'm looking forward to continuing to provide a pathway for young females in the region and help them in their aspirations to play AFLW."     

Geelong CEO described Brian Cook as "the perfect coach" to lead the club's inaugural AFLW team.    

"Paul is enormously respected … and has shown himself to be an exceptional leader."    

Hood has previously coached the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup and the Cats' VFL team.    

He won the 1995 Morrish Medal as the TAC Cup's best player, and played at VFL level with Geelong and North Ballarat. Hood played for St Joseph's in the Geelong Football League before turning to coaching.