The home season is a fun and competitive opportunity for the entire league to come together, develop their skills while building on teamwork, with the developing players learning from the more seasoned skaters. Roller derby is an inclusive sport, attracting women who were not always athletic or sporty growing up. It has a huge alternative following and is seen as a safe place for women to be involved in an accepting community, while developing both self-confidence and athletic skills while being part of a competitive and positive environment.
The VRDL is riding high on its international success, with its representative travel team the All Stars taking out major wins at May’s The Big O Tournament, in Oregon, USA, in May. The Aussie team was the talk of the event, with its “impenetrable” defensive human walls, and fierce jammers (point scorers). The event saw the All Stars topple some of the top ranked teams from the USA and across the globe.
VRDL is currently at the top of their game, sitting fourth in the international WFTDA rankings. This comes after a stellar 2013 which saw them shoot from #22 in the world to a top five placing, and earning themselves the opportunity to become the first Australasian team to compete at the WFTDA International Championships and the first international team to win a game at the Championships in the history of the WFTDA.
These achievements are reflective of just how far Victoria has come since their first international competition in 2012. The All Stars are preparing for Division 1 Playoffs in September, with the International 2015 WFTDA Championships taking place in November.
Rankings are calculated from points awarded in games through the year, so in order to maintain its international ranking, the All Stars need to regularly
compete overseas. The players’ national and international travel is self-funded, so the league puts a lot of work into fundraising initiatives.
All Star Grace Giles said roller derby isn't just a hobby anymore, it has become her life.
“I train six days a week, sometimes seven, on and off skates. I am constantly saving the little money I have time to make for our next tour."
"We have to make up to three almost entirely self-funded trips over to the USA each year"
"Last year was four for myself and team mates who were selected to play for Team Australia in the World Cup,” Giles said.
“It has all been totally worth it though, every job I have lost, every night out I have missed, every outfit I have not been able to afford means nothing compared to the feeling of being involved in something as amazing and being part of such an incredible team.”
On a national scale, the All Stars are also three-time reigning champs of the biennial Australasian tournament The Great Southern Slam, held in Adelaide.
Aside from the international representative A team, VRDL also consists of a B team; Queen Bees, and a C team; Sparkle Motion.
A far cry from being the underdogs, the Queen Bees are also proving themselves a force to be reckoned with, as one of the country’s top ranked teams. Adding to the trophy cabinet at VRDL clubhouse affectionately known as ‘The Factory’ the Queen Bees are champions of the 2013 Vic/Tas tournament, as well as last year’s inaugural Victorian Bendigo Rebellion tournament.
Queen Bees captain Amy Booth, known on track as Blondage, said the team was still on a high after significant wins at the Queen’s Birthday Royal Rumble tournament in Queensland, where they came up against some of the country’s best teams.
“We’ve got talented and dedicated women on these teams who have been working hard on gameplay and strategy,” she said.
Queen Bees teammate Jackie Collins, aka Florence the Machine, agrees, saying the sport has evolved from a novelty to an international phenomenon.
“Some people tend to think of roller derby as a choreographed spectacle like wrestling – it’s moved away from that and it’s a much more athletic sport now,” she said.
More details at facebook.com/victorianrollerderbyleague or vrdl.org
VRDL 2015 home season dates
* Sunday 23rd August
* Sunday 22nd November
Picture: Dave Arnold
Dead Ringer Rosies vs Toxic Avengers