HAMILTON Kangaroos FNC policy of promoting youth into its senior football teams will pay dividends today as seven locals take the field at Mars Stadium for Hampden Football Netball League in both Under-23 and Under-17 Interleague matches against Ballarat FNL.

   Hamish Cook and Rory Gill will line up for the Under-23 team while Jack Jennings, Charlie Field will showcase their skills in the Under-17 team, with Roos’ Kyle Rhook as an emergency.

   Cook was excited to carry his strong 2023 form into this game and will line up at full forward, while Gill (starting interchange) is expected to get plenty of the ball in the midfield for the Bottle Greens.

“Selection means a lot to me, it's good reward for the hard work … (it) gives me confidence moving back into normal footy next week,” Cook told The Spectator.

“Browny was at training tonight and it was good to learn from one of the best as well, as all the other coaches from around the league.”

   The pair have learnt plenty from their time training with the squad from experienced coaches such as Chris McLaren, Leigh McCluskey, Dan O’Keeffe and Nathan Vardy as well as former triple AFL premiership star and head coach Johnathan Brown.

   The Kangaroos players can be proud of their inclusion in both squads as it is reward for the hard work and improvement, they put into their individual games each week.

The Under-17’s has also been able to learn from the HFNL coaching panel of Brett Taylor, Ben Parkinson and Justin Impey who are guiding the youngsters in the early game.