THE Hamilton Kangaroos are changing it up, with the club’s junior football trials underway.

The club typically starts the junior program after Christmas, but the Under-14s and Under-16s had their first session on Wednesday, with the tryouts to continue for another fortnight.

Kangaroos junior football coordinator, Martin Clark said the decision to bring the sessions forward would help other clubs, as well as give the kids certainty ahead of Christmas.

“We thought we’d keep the boys moving after a reasonably successful season just gone and get our squads settled before Christmas ahead of the 2024 season,” he said.

“The Under-14 numbers were down, clashing with Under-12 cricket, but the Under-16 numbers are strong.

“This will help us incorporate them out to other clubs, if we have too many we will look to permit them out to other clubs.

“We will have three weeks of tryouts then we will break for Christmas and let the boys focus on cricket then we will probably return around February.”

With Melville Oval expected to be out of action for the full 2024 season, the club has already locked in an alternate venue for home games.

“We will be up at Pedrina Park for all our home games, we have the three ovals up there and of course we are looking forward to 2025 with the new facilities,” Clark said.

Matt Dunn will coach the Under-16 team, while Stu Casey will take on the Under-14 coaching role, with the club looking to give the kids some familiarity around their coaches.

“We have had Dunny have a lot of these boys all the way back from Under-12s and even Auskick right the way through,” Clark said.

“Stu was the Greater South West league coach a few years back, so just trying to keep some continuation around that as well.”

 The tryouts are open to anyone wanting to attend with the sessions at Hamilton Recreation Reserve.

The Under-14 sessions start at 4pm and the Under-16s get underway at 4.30pm.

Clark said building on the foundation set in 2023 would be the focus, with the Under-14s finishing the home and away season in second position before going out in straight sets, while the Under-16 team finished third and also lost their first two finals.

“At this stage, it is all looking good for this year,” Clark said.