‘Speed chess while dodging bricks’: Newcastle’s roller derby season prepares for kick-off

With the winter sporting season set to kick off in the Hunter, one very unique, all-action sport is preparing for a massive season opener this weekend.

With March coming to an end, sporting competitions all around the Hunter are set to kick off as players and officials alike ready themselves for another winter season.

But in amongst the favourites like soccer, rugby league and netball, one very unique sport is preparing for its season opener this weekend.

The Newcastle Roller Derby League (NRDL) will kick off on Saturday night, with the Harbour Hellcats taking on 2022 champions the Bogey Rollers at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in a repeat of last year’s grand final.

While there might be a few out there who’ve never heard of roller derby, which is most popular in North America, the NRDL has actually been around since 2009, with the Hellcats, Bogey Rollers and Fort Smashleys taking part in a six-round competition that will culminate in a grand final in October.

“My favourite way to describe roller derby is to say that it’s like playing speed chess while somebody throws bricks at you,” says Zoe Llewellyn of the Harbour Hellcats.

“It is a full contact sport, so there’s that to consider, but it’s also very strategic and it all happens very, very quickly. There’s a lot going on, which makes it very exciting to watch.”

The Bogey Rollers (green) and the Harbour Hellcats (black) will kick off the 2023 Newcastle Roller Derby League season. Photo: Mark Zouroudis

The game, which takes place on an oval roller skating track, features two teams of five, consisting of one ‘jammer’ and four ‘blockers’.

The aim of the game is for the jammer to score as many points as possible for their team, achieved by lapping the opposition blockers.

The aim is for the jammer (with a star on their helmet) to overlap the opposition blockers. Photo: Mark Zouroudis.

Meanwhile, the blockers are tasked with not only providing a safe passage for their own jammer, but also preventing the opposition from getting through.

“You’re kind of playing offence and defence at the same time,” says Llewellyn. “It’s constantly moving, there’s always something happening.”

Indeed, it was this all-action experience that hooked Llewellyn from the get-go.

“I went to my very first game and as soon as it finished I was asking people: ‘How can I get involved in this. I need this to be in my life, so how do I make it happen?’”

Roller derby is an all-action contact sport. Photo: Mark Zouroudis.

And although the sport itself is a major drawcard, Llewellyn says the overall experience is something to see.

“What I’ve heard over the years from people who’ve come to see us is that what they enjoy most is the atmosphere,” she said.

“We’re all having a great time. There’s no animosity, there’s no super serious competition – we’re all there to have fun and play the game that we love, and I think that creates a really positive environment for people to come and watch because they can see how much fun we’re having and that really translates to the spectator experience.”

And while it’s a hell of a lot of fun, Llewellyn says that as a league for women and non-binary people, the NRDL plays a crucial role in encouraging young girls to play sport.

“Roller derby is really important because it’s predominantly a women’s sport, and I think it’s important for young girls to see women playing sport. We’re really fortunate that we get to set the example and be the people that these kids coming through are looking up to.”

The NRDL kicks off on Saturday night with the Harbour Hellcats taking on the Bogey Rollers at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre. Doors open at 6pm for a 6:30pm start.