THE Hamilton Kangaroos will open their 2025 Hampden Football Netball League campaign with a return to Melville Oval on April 5.

The Kangaroos will host Warrnambool in round one, with the game set to be the first played at the redeveloped ground since works got underway in July last year.

Round three will see the blue and white host their first Anzac Day clash since 2022, with the traditional clash against Portland locked in for Hamilton.

Two byes will offer some respite, with the first on the Kings Birthday weekend, and the other to be the Interleague bye on July 5.

The league will have Easter off, aside from the traditional Saints and Roosters clash, which will be played at Victoria Park in 2025, while a split round 15 schedule will see the Roos host Terang-Mortlake on August 2 then have the following weekend off.

The proposed change to the grand final schedule has been ticked off, with the season decider to be played on a Friday for the first time, with the move coinciding with the AFL Grand Final eve public holiday on September 26.

Kangaroos president, Dave Hintum said it was exciting for the club to return to its spiritual home for round one.

“We haven’t been told of a change of date for probably six months now, so we expect it to be ready, unless they notify us otherwise,” he said.

“We had a certain number of requests and Anzac Day against Portland was our main request.

“I think it is important to have a game there before Anzac Day, whether it was round one or round two, just for a bit of a test run.”

 With last season signalling the move for Sunday’s junior netball games to a Saturday, the junior football is starting to progress to a Saturday also, with a handful of clubs working together to facilitate the change.

“With the junior draw, we were one of the clubs who wanted junior football played on the Saturday and there were five who wanted it and five who wanted it to remain on Sundays,” Hintum said.

“Terang-Mortlake, Camperdown, Port Fairy and Koroit were the others who wanted the change, and so our fixtures against those clubs will all be Saturdays, and we have also spoken to Warrnambool and they voted to stay on Sundays, but are happy to do Saturdays against us.

“That means there are 10 rounds where the whole club is together

“At least two of the junior games, the Under-10s and Under-12s will be at Pedrina Park.

“The times are still to be decided but will start with Under-14 at around 8.30 or 9am, and if the ground looks overworked in winter, we can move it to Pedrina Park as well.”

Hamilton will close its home and away season with a round 18 clash at Melville Oval against the North Warrnambool Eagles on August 30.