THE Hamilton Kangaroos are set to open their Hampden Football Netball League (HFNL) season today with a clash against Koroit at Victoria Park.

The Kangaroos have also got a few new faces at the club who will take to the field for the first time against the reigning premiers, including Nathan Fall and Andrew Pepper.

New senior coach, Hamish Waldron said the group was excited to get a new campaign started.

“It has been a long pre-season just with all the COVID stuff,” he said.

“All the boys are just keen to get started.”

The blue and white will also welcome a few juniors into the side for their senior debuts this afternoon.

Zach Burgess and Ben Starkie will take the next step in their football careers after impressing during the team’s pre-season and intraclub matches during the pre-season.

“They have both had solid pre-seasons,” Waldron said.

“Zach had a good game against South Gambier and so he was definitely an in and Starks played well in the intraclubs, so they will fill the small forward roles for us.”

Darcy Russell will shoulder much of the load up forward, with Hugh Douglas also likely to spend plenty of time ahead of the ball.

Waldron will also give others a run through the midfield with the playing-coach naming himself on a half-forward flank.

The Kangaroos had a relatively healthy squad to pick from, but a handful of players were unavailable due to injury.

“Bailey Mason just had his appendix out, Jack Hickey’s hamstring has kept him out and Ethan Knight has hurt his ankle, so hopefully he can play well in the Under-18.5s,” Waldron said.

“Stuart Ward also broke his finger.”

With a tough start to the season, Waldron said it will give the group an immediate gauge of where they sit against the benchmark of the competition.

“You always like to know where you’re at straight up,” he said.

“So to go down there and take them on at their home deck, we will get a good idea straight away.”

First bounce is scheduled for 3.50pm at Victoria Park.

Netball

THE Kangaroos will take to the court for the first time in 2022 with a new-look squad.

The Sommerville sisters, Emma and Kelly, headline this year’s inclusions with the blue and white set to test themselves against the 2021 minor premiers.