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Junior Roos trio selected in HFNL squad

THE local sporting talent continues to be recognised with three Under-18 footballers from the Hamilton Kangaroos selected in the Under-17 Hampden Football Netball League (HFNL) 38-player initial squad.

Zac Elliott, Brodie Phillips and Hugh Fitzgerald were rewarded for their impressive individual seasons, all three will be fighting for a spot in the final team which will battle it out against Ballarat Football Netball League (BFNL) as a curtain raiser for the U23 Clinton Baulch Cup next month.

The coaching staff will be made up of Ben Parkinson, Justin Impey and Brett Taylor.

All three boys play different positions for the Kangaroos in the Under-18s, with each of them bringing different strengths to the side.

Elliott and Fitzgerald also represented Bottle Greens just a month ago in the South West District Football Netball League (SWDFNL) Junior Carnival playing for Hampden West.

The team fell eight points short in the grand final against Hampden East but both locals had impressive games with Elliott named in the best players and Fitzgerald kicking one of the side’s three goals.

The trio all play together for the blue and white in the Under-18s and are three big reasons as to why the side sits on top of the ladder with an 8-1 record.

Hamilton Kangaroos’ Under-18 coach, Damien Van Someren was delighted with the selections and said it was good to see some reward for effort.

“It’s exciting and very pleasing as their coach to see the boys get some recognition for the hard work that they’ve been putting in this year,” he told The Spectator.

Elliott plays as an opportunistic small forward who has averaged a goal per game this season in the Under-18s, as well as being among the best players on multiple occasions.

He showed just how much scoreboard damage he can inflict in the match against Port Fairy in round seven, he booted four majors and helped his side to a massive win.

Van Someren said it was Elliott’s football IQ that really made him a standout in the Under-18 competition.

“He’s just a sort of small crumbing half forward, he is very crafty and can go on-ball as well,” he said.

“Zac has got plenty of pace and knows where the goals are, he is a very smart player for us.”

Fitzgerald also possesses many of these qualities and has been a mainstay in the Kangaroos’ engine room in 2024, the hard-at-it midfielder gives opposition players headaches.

The clearance machine has been in the best players in five of his last six matches, and proved he can also hit the scoreboard when he kicked three goals against Portland earlier in the year.

“Hugh is a tough on-baller, he’s never shirked an issue and he runs in straight lines … he’s hard at it and never backs down,” Van Someren said.

“He’s come on heaps this year, I coached him last year in the Under-16s and he’s had massive growth.”

Phillips is also continuing to grow, in both height and confidence as his ability to play practically any position has added great versatility to the side.

The exciting youngster made his Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels debut earlier in the Coates Talent League season and will be a key player if the Kangaroos are to taste the ultimate success this year.

“Brodie normally plays across half-back but this year we’ve put him up forward and through the midfield, he’s a utility,” Van Someren said.

“He is creative, has good foot skills and is an awesome mark, he gives us that bit extra around the ball mainly with his foot skills.”

The team will have two training sessions in the lead up to the interleague clash, July 2 at the DC Farran Oval and July 4 at Reid Oval – the final team will be selected after these sessions.

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