THE Hamilton Kangaroos will take to Melville Oval once again hoping to open up their points tally for the season when they host Terang-Mortlake this afternoon.

The Bloods are one of the big improvers this Hampden Football Netball League season, sitting second on the ladder after finishing 2022 in eighth spot, below the Kangaroos on percentage.

Some shrewd recruiting sees the red and blue travel to Hamilton as favourites, but the home team tends to lift an extra level for games at home.

Roos coach, Hamish Waldron, hasn’t shied away from his desire for his team to make its home ground a fortress, but with the team yet to record a win at home or away, it is not going to be an easy task today.

“I have said to the boys we are getting closer and closer and hopefully that first win comes soon,” Waldron said.

“We played really good against Koroit for nearly four quarters (and) Terang got beaten by Warrnambool, and I thought we didn’t play too badly against Warrnambool, so hoping we can put enough pressure on.

“You can gauge everything off that, if our pressure isn’t up and our tackle count is up, we are not working hard enough.”

The Roos will be without some key personnel for the clash with coach, Hamish Waldron, set to miss with injury, along with Rory Gill, while Jandre Slabbert won’t return from injury for today’s game.

Jack Hickey’s inclusion will stiffen up the tall defensive stocks, while Mick McMeel also returns to the side with a move into the midfield a possibility to add some experience to the middle.

“They have a tall young ruck and he gets a good hand on it, so Whytey will have his work cut,  we will probably play a bit more man-on-man in there,” Waldron said.

“They have got a key forward with Will Kain down there, and obviously they win plenty of ball and set up really well off half back, so I may play someone as a defensive role down there.”

Hamish Cook’s return to the side last week will also help today, as the youngster takes some attention up forward.

“He takes a bit of pressure off Darcy (Russell), obviously Zach Burgess played his best game of the season last week with four goals as well.”

THE Hamilton Kangaroos will be out to build winning momentum once again when they take to the courts against Terang-Mortlake at Pedrina Park today.

The Kangaroos are coming off a loss to Koroit last week, with the Bloods sitting seventh, just six points behind.

The home team started the season with a flurry but has lost to Koroit and South Warrnambool in the past three weeks, with today’s clash important in getting the team back on track and keeping the Roos in touch with the top four.

Having missed Madsie Phillips and Hayley Sherlock for periods in the past few weeks, both the attacking and defensive combinations have needed some tweaking, but this afternoon’s round eight clash should see the home team notch up a fifth victory of the season, going into the game as favourites to get the points.