THE Hamilton Kangaroos have come back to ground with a thud, losing to Koroit by 122 points at Melville Oval on Saturday.

The home team went into the Hampden Football Netball League clash off the back of three straight wins, but the reigning premiers grabbed control of the contest early on and was never challenged.

Inaccuracy kept the Kangaroos in the contest in the first term, as the Saints kicked 4.5 to lead by 27 points at the first break.

Hamilton’s inability to transition successfully and create scoring opportunities restricted the team to just one goal before half time, going into the main break trailing by 64 points.

Injuries started to take a toll for the blue and white, as the visitors covered the ground easier and piled on seven goals to three to go into the final term with a 91-point advantage.

Hamilton did its best to run out the game with vigour, but fell short at the final siren, 6.5 (41) to 25.13 (163).

Darcy Russell was the Kangaroos’ only multiple goal kicker with two, while Jeremy Hausler was a strong target up forward for the visitors, bagging eight majors.

The Kangaroos played out the game with only one on the bench after playing-coach, Hamish Waldron, and Rory Gill both picked up hamstring and calf injuries respectively.

Waldron was happy with how the team fought out the contest with limited rotations, but it shows just how far off the top teams the blue and white side is.

“They are a quality opposition and as much as you try and match them all up, they just have too many good players,” he said.

“I thought our first half was a bit poor, pretty fumbly and scrappy, but I thought we improved after half time.

“We played into their hands a bit with our ball movement.

“It was good to see they were fit enough and can grind it out.”

Brady Hicks was named the team’s best on ground, while Cameron Pither and Charles Murrie also impressed for the home team.

“You could see he didn’t stop trying and that is why he is the leader of our club,” Waldron said.

Reserves

THE Kangaroos pushed the Saints right to the end but fell short by 10 points at the final siren of the reserves contest.

The home team started with a flurry, putting up two goals to one in the opening term, before the Saints responded with five second-quarter goals to lead by 22 points at the main break.

Koroit came out after half time and looked to grab control of the contest, but the Kangaroos dug deep and the margin remained the same at the final break.

Hamilton got the better of the visitors in the last quarter, drawing to within reach on the scoreboard, but eventually lost, 8.8 (56) to 10.6 (66).

Jordy Anthony kicked three goals for the blue and white, while Harry McGinley was named the Kangaroos’ best player.

Under-18.5

HAMILTON Kangaroos’ Under-18.5 team got the win against Koroit, outworking the Saints to claim a 30-point victory.

The home team struggled to move clear of the Saints early in the contest, and at the first break scores were tied at 14-14, but the Kangaroos worked into the game and eventually won, 8.9 (57) to 3.9 (27).