HAMILTON Kangaroos face a tough test in week one of the Hampden Football Netball League Division 1 netball finals series when they meet Port Fairy at Victoria Park today.
The Kangaroos finished on the second rung of the ladder with the Seagulls one spot below, and the winner will earn a date with minor premiers Koroit next week for a spot in the season decider.
The teams have met twice this season with the Kangaroos winning the round nine clash by a goal, followed by a draw in the final round of the home and away season, proving there is nothing between the teams heading into finals.
Bailey Ryan, Rosie Close and Annie Walsh stood tallest last Saturday in that drawn match, but look for the rest of the team to play at their usual high level in support.
Division 2
HAMILTON will battle Cobden tomorrow at Gardens Oval in the Division 2 elimination final, knowing a loss will end its 2022 campaign.
The two meetings between these teams during the season both went the way of the Bombers by large margins, but sport is full of results that went against trend and there is no reason that the Kangaroos cannot cause an upset in the sudden death contest.
Division 3
THE best defensive record in the Division 3 competition will be a vital weapon for the Hamilton Kangaroos when they meet South Warrnambool at Victoria Park in today’s qualifying final.
The teams met twice this season with each winning their respective home games by a single goal to set up an enthralling start to the finals series.
17 and Under
HAMILTON Kangaroos and South Warrnambool will face-off in the 17-and-Under elimination final tomorrow at Gardens Oval with the loser to pack away the bibs for the summer.
The team with the home court advantage has won each game between these teams this season, but the Kangaroos had a five-goal margin over the Roosters in round 15 to take a psychological advantage into today’s game.
15 and Under
GARDENS Oval will see plenty of Hamilton Kangaroos supporters on Sunday with the 15-and-Under team battling Camperdown for the right to carry on in the finals series.
Camperdown has won both matches between the teams this season, but with nothing to lose, the Kangaroos can attack from the opening whistle against the Magpies.
Under-18.5 football
HAMILTON Kangaroos’ Under-18.5s enter their qualifying final with North Warrnambool Eagles today at Victoria Park looking to secure a place in the second semi-final against Koroit next weekend.
The Kangaroos have met the Eagles twice this season with each team winning a game by a kick or less in what have been closely fought games.
North Warrnambool Eagles is not in form coming into the game, losing the final two matches of the home and away season and won on forfeit in the final round, whereas the Kangaroos recorded a 70-point defeat of Port Fairy in their last round game (plus a forfeit win against Camperdown and a 27-point victory against Cobden in the same period).
With three of the top four leading goal kickers for the competition in the team, the Kangaroos have several avenues to goal.
Jack Austin (23 goals), Will Povey (35) and William Hunter (29) have combined well in the Kangaroos forward line to offer the team multiple options up front, while Jason Hawker, Hunter, Charlie Alexander, Ben Potter, Mason Tooley and William Kent all had an impact against Port Fairy last week and will be hoping to continue that form into the postseason.
