HAMILTON Kangaroos reached its nadir on Saturday when the side was thrashed by Warrnambool at Reid Oval in Hampden Football Netball League round 15 action, 5.5 (35) – 26.11 (167).

It was a game the Roos had targeted as being a match they could win, but the side was outplayed across the ground, as the Blues displayed a great running game that left the visitors grasping at thin air.

Right from the opening quarter the Blues were on target to post a big tally with all six shots on goal piercing the big sticks to lead by 33 points, as the Roos could muster only three behinds in reply.

The second term was more of the same, as the home side took the game out of reach with another 12 shots on goal to only one in reply, as the margin increased to 74 points and the game was over.

In the previous few rounds the Roos had shown the ability to come back in the third term, but on Saturday the Warrnambool team didn’t allow the Roos to stage a revival, as the dominance continued with the home side adding another five majors.

The last term saw Warrnambool move into a higher gear with another eight goals added, as the Roos posted two, but a 132-point loss is not really where this squad is at in terms of skill and ability.

Outgoing Roos coach, Hamish Waldron, has brought many youngsters into the team over his two-year tenure and has set the club up for the future by blooding these players in the top team.

Taine Morris, Ethan Knight, Jack Jennings, Cameron Whyte, Charlie Alexander and Michael McMeel were named the Kangaroos’ best on the day to continue their good form individually.

The Kangaroos have their next two games at home out at Dunkeld Recreation Reserve due to the redevelopment works at Melville Oval and with Koroit and Camperdown visiting in these games the home side must target winning at least one if not both.

Reserves

HAMILTON Kangaroos must win its last three rounds of the 2023 season if it wants to play finals after letting slip the opportunity to keep pace with top five in its loss with Warrnambool on Saturday, 5.4 (34) to 7.13 (55).

The Roos were only one game shy of fifth spot before the start of this round, but with Koroit defeating Camperdown, the loss has seen the Roos fall to be two games behind the Saints with three games to play.

Both teams had four shots on goal in the first term, but the visitors were straighter with their kicking to have a nine-point lead at the first change of ends.

The Blues responded to their quarter-time talk, restricting the Kangaroos to only two behinds for the second term and then held them scoreless for the third term, but still only led by 11 points at the three-quarter time siren.

The visitors couldn’t lift for the final term, but Jordy Anthony, James Whyte, Hugh Douglas, Harry English, Toby Barrie and Joshua Nield did their best to get the win for the Roos.

Under-18.5

HAMILTON Kangaroos claimed a huge scalp in its come-from-behind victory against Warrnambool on Saturday in a finals-like match up with the side that sits just above it on the ladder, 6.8 (44) – 6.3 (39).

The Roos will again face a top five team in their next game, when they host fourth-placed Koroit at Dunkeld Recreation Reserve where victory may well give the side a foothold on the second rung of the ladder.

After taking a one-point lead in the first break, the visitors found themselves behind at the sounding of the siren for the next two terms, but a resurgence in the final quarter gave the Roos a very good victory against one of the flag favourites.

Jake Tonissen, Jake Hardy, Deacon White, Kyle Rhook, Noah Herrmann and Charlie Field all played well for the visitors as the side looks to a break this weekend to refresh before a finals campaign beginning the first Saturday in September.