THE Hamilton Kangaroos are set to blood some more youngsters this afternoon when they travel to Victoria Park to take on Koroit.

The Roos will be hoping their Hampden Football Netball League round eight clash is a better outing than last week, when they went down to Port Fairy by 37 points, conceding 114 points, with the team generally a far better outfit without the ball.

Hamilton coach, Brad Thomas said he was excited to see how the team stacked up against the benchmark team of the past decade.

“Koroit is a good team, so we are pretty excited to play them,” he said.

“For us to put our systems against theirs, I am excited to see where we are at.

“They beat Terang-Mortlake and North Warrnambool the week before as well.”

A trio of Under-18 players have got the call up, with Bailey Baker, Jack Jennings and Kyle Rhook, the latter making his senior debut.

“I am pretty excited to bring those three in together,” he said.

“Charlie Field will go back to Under-18s, Lachie Urquhart will go back to reserves, and Hamish Waldron and Levi Dare will be out as well.”

After the side’s most disappointing outing of the season in round seven, Thomas said he identified key areas and backed the group to put in an improved effort today.

“It is just about engaging more, it is more of a mindset thing,” he said.

“We just didn’t stay engaged, we lost it and the mindset went missing.

“Koroit is very good on the outside and have good shape around the ball, so I am excited to see how we go with the contested ball and ground ball against them.”

With Saturday set to be a fair bit cooler than last weekend, the contested ball and possession will be even more important, as both teams look to gain territory when possible.

Netball

THE Hamilton Kangaroos will be out to create an upset when they take on Koroit in their Open netball clash at Victoria Park today.

The Roos are coming off a loss to Port Fairy, and without key personnel, Mimi Chun and playing-coach, Emma Sommerville.

Sommerville hasn’t shied away from giving the younger players minutes in the top grade, with Saskia Gould setting into her role in the goals, along with Ella Sevior, Maddox Ryan, Molly O’Brien, Imogen Thomas and Lexi Thomas, the latter making her Open debut last week.

With injuries piling up, the team must galvanise, and the Saints won’t be an easy task this afternoon, with Koroit sitting fourth with just two losses for the season.

Improved shooting accuracy will be necessary to keep the home side within reach for the blue and white, in a clash which will test the character and development of the side, as the halfway point of the season approaches.