THE Hamilton Kangaroos sit just one win and percentage out of the Hampden Football Netball League top five after a 19-point win against Cobden at Melville Oval on Saturday.

The Kangaroos went into the round seven clash as favourites and got an early jump on the Bombers, keeping the visitors to seven points in the opening quarter, while the blue and white kicked 4.5 to lead comfortably at the first break.

The Bombers bounced back in the second term and kicked three goals to one to reduce the margin to just 12 points at the main break.

With the home side a strong second half in games at Melville Oval, it was up to the Kangaroos to run out the game despite losing Cameron Whyte to a hamstring complaint, forcing Taine Morris and Bailey Mason to spend time in the ruck.

Hamilton made good use of the conditions and piled on three goals in the third term to stretch the margin back out to 26 points at the final change of ends.

Cobden put up a brave effort, but could not reel in the deficit, going down, 9.8 (62) to 11.15 (81), and giving the Roos their third win of the season.

Kangaroos coach, Hamish Waldron said it was another strong performance for the side.

“I thought we started really well, we probably dropped off a bit at the start of the second quarter,” he said.

“They got on top at the stoppages, but from the 12-minute mark, we rallied and got it back on our terms.

“They were always going to come, they play a contested brand of footy and I said to the boys at three quarter time there will be a stage where the come.

“Probably a little bit of bad kicking that sort of kept them in the game a little bit longer and there were a few turnovers that were costly.”

The Kangaroos welcomed back Darcy Russell after the key forward missed last week, with the tall target creating headaches for the Cobden defenders at times.

A few costly turnovers late in the game created some nervous moments, but Waldron said the most pleasing thing was the amount of scoring chances they were able to create.

“The chances are there, I think we had 48 or 49 inside 50s,” he said.

“We are getting the opportunities but a little bit more goal kicking practice wouldn’t go astray.”

The Roos also played their seventh young debutant with Deacon White getting the call up and impressing on the wing with two goals.

Waldron said it was the right time to give the Greater Western Victoria Rebels’ player a call-up.

“I have been wanting to play him for a while,” he said.

“He didn’t look out of place at all, thought he played his role incredibly well.

“I thought Cam Pither’s game down back was super, he took some good one-on-one marks and hardly got beaten and used the footy well.

“I thought Andrew Pepper was good, think he had 36 touches through the midfield.”

Waldron and Brady Hicks also chipped in with two goals each in the win.

The Kangaroos reserves team got up in a thriller, holding off Cobden by three points.

Scores were tied at the final break, with the home side eventually claiming a 8.6 (54) to 8.3 (51) victory.

Riley Alexander and Jordy Anthony kicked two goals each for Hamilton, while Allan Martin was the team’s best.

The Kangaroos Under-18.5 team also had a win, comfortably accounting for the Bombers, 15.9 (99) to 5.9 (39).

Ben Starkie impressed with five goals, while Jack Austin kicked three majors for the blue and white.

Noah Herrmann was the Kangaroos’ best player.