The Saints managed one more goal for the entire game but it was enough to consign Hamilton Kangaroos to a 4.18 (42) to 3.9 (27) defeat at Victoria Park.

Heavy rain and wind played their part with just two behinds kicked to the Port Fairy end of the ground.

Both coaches — Koroit’s Adam Dowie and Hamilton Kangaroos’ Jarrod Holt — described playing conditions as difficult.

“In the end I didn’t know who was who,” Dowie said of the mud-clad players.

The Saints kicked 3.7 and kept the Kangaroos scoreless in the opening term.

“I think we kicked three goals in the first 10 minutes and that was it,” Dowie said.

“Early on we adapted to the conditions a little better than they did and kicked with the wind but after that it was a real scrap and was all played at one end of the ground.

“It was one of those days where it comes down to a lot of luck and the bounce of the ball or a slip.

“Each goal was worth three.”

Dowie emphasised the output of the Saints’ teenage contingent — Tom Lynch, James Gow, Jayden Brennan, Willem Drew and Jayden Whitehead — in trying conditions.

“When you have a third of your side who are kids and you can win in those conditions, it says a bit about them and about the players who are leading the way too,” he said.

Hamilton Kangaroos coach Jarrod Holt lamented the Roos’ slow start.

He said the Kangaroos, shock winners against the Saints in round two, tried gallantly to work their way back into the game.

“It was a funny game. It got harder and harder,” Holt said.

“They had control of the footy a bit more and missed a few goals as the scoreboard showed.”

Holt said the weather was “horrible” but was pleased his players tried to take the game on with their running power.

“You always get at least one (game) like that a year,” he said.

“We had the wind in the last quarter and had a lot of the footy but couldn’t pick it up.

“The rain was really heavy and you battled to see into it.

“It’s one of those days where it’s hard to take much out of it.

“Every thing which is planned and what you train for goes out the window.”

Kangaroo tagger Jarrod O’Brien was concussed and spent the second half on the bench.

“I had him doing a defensive role on Isaac Templeton and he was doing a good job at that stage and I then had to swing things around in the midfield,” Holt said.