THE Hamilton Kangaroos took to the netball courts for their first pre-season session on Wednesday, with the club unveiling its recent recruit, Rachael Ough.

The Roos announced the 31-year-old had signed on earlier this week, having played her junior netball at South Warrnambool, before playing for both Geelong Cougars and Ballarat Pride at state level, last playing for Edenhope-Apsley in 2014 before taking time off to have kids.

Ough told The Spectator that the timing was positive to get back involved in the sport.

“Every year since I’ve been in Hamilton I’ve had clubs chasing me, but something felt right this time,” she said.

“If I was going to play, it was always going to be in the Hampden league.”

A work connection with Ough’s husband set the ball rolling, with the process happening quickly.

“My husband works at Monivae and Renae Porter kept hounding him, and he passed my number on and it just went from there,” Ough said.

“From the time I heard from Jarryd, set up a meeting in a few days and it was all done in about a week.

“I have been doing a bit of fitness and practicing goals, I have always been goal shooter.

“I’ll float in and out, but primarily around the goal ring and the base line, but I don’t mind a long shot.

“Mentally and physically I am feeling really good.”

Roos coach, Jarryd Anton said he was excited about what the new recruit would offer the side in 2025.

“ (She) is a really exciting recruit for us, I think she will add an immense amount to our season,” he said.

“She will give us height and strength, and she is a really extreme competitor, to have someone like that … will be a really great asset to us.”

With senior trials in February and junior trials getting underway next week, the pre-season sessions are crucial in building fitness and chemistry on court.

“I think it will just be about getting out there on the court and getting some ball into their hands,” Anton said.

“It is incredibly important, we are lucky to have the services of Deb Pither, she is putting together a really great program for us to run off, we are going to set some individual programs for the girls to use over Christmas to ensure we don’t lose our fitness over that time, and hopefully we put ourselves into a place where come trials we will have a really fit group of girls that are ready to put out a high level of netball.”