Wins against South Warrnambool, Cobden, Portland and Hamilton Kangaroos — sides which finished outside the Hampden league top five last season — have given new coach Phil Carse the ideal start to his time at Leura Oval.

But Camperdown knows its unblemished record will be challenged in the next month.

The Magpies must navigate a tricky trip to play the inconsistent but capable Port Fairy at Gardens Oval next week.

That precedes a daunting month against 2014 top four finishers Warrnambool, Terang Mortlake, North Warrnambool Eagles and Koroit.

How Camperdown fares against those outfits will give observers a stronger indication of where it is placed.

Still, a 4-0 start is the perfect building block and will ensure the Pies go into those tough assignments confident in what they’re building.

Carse, having overseen a hard fought 13.8 (86) to 7.9 (51) win against Hamilton Kangaroos at home on Saturday, is excited about the challenge.

“We feel like if we play our best footy that we’ll be competitive with the top sides,” he said.

“If we have lapses, sides are going to put us away. 

“We still have another week to try and work on it and try and put our best foot forward against Port Fairy and then face the top sides after that. 

“We know we haven’t played the top sides yet but we’re happy to be 4-0.”

A focus on the contested ball underpinned Camperdown’s win against a lightly-built Hamilton Kangaroos outfit. The Magpies’ three unanswered opening term goals from 22 inside 50s as heavy rain fell proved too big an obstacle for the Kangaroos — scoreless at the first change — to overcome in the conditions.

The rain stopped at quarter-time but the ball, heavy and slippery, ensured both sides struggled to get much clean possession.

Carse kicked a clever snap to start the second term, further denting the Roos’ confidence.

But they fought back and before the Kangaroos finally ended their drought.

The Pies, though, had the answers. Teenager Henry Bradshaw and midfielder Jack McDonald both converted snap shots within a minute of each other.

The margin was 26 points at half-time. 

Hamilton Kangaroos coach Jarrod Holt opted to spend the second half on the bench, citing a persistent back injury and eagerness to add pace to their forward line as reasons for his decision.

Kane Uebergang, in his first game of the season, stepped up. 

The creative utility with a booming kick slotted a gem from the boundary line in the third term — his side’s only major for the quarter — and finished with four goals.

His efforts weren’t enough to help the Roos overcome their poor away form.

They won one road game in 2014 and have dropped their first two of this season, leaving Holt searching for answers.

“It was the same old story unfortunately,” he said. “It happened all last year. I was hoping we’d be more competitive away from home; I thought we’d made some inroads there. 

“But it is the same old pattern as last year. 

“Two away games, two games where we’ve been beaten, not thrashed, but beaten convincingly, and we’ve won our two home games.”

A suspected broken leg to promising midfielder Tom Feely with only minutes remaining in the match further soured the Kangaroos’ afternoon.