Kingsway Indoor Stadium in Madeley will host a major roller derby event this Saturday, November 1, as teams from Western Australia and South Australia compete in the 2025 'Nulla Brawl'. The event features five teams across three matches, marking the first time South Australian roller derby teams have competed in WA since 2012.
Roller derby is a full-contact sport played on quad skates, often described as 'rugby on wheels'. A 'jammer' scores points by lapping opposing players while teammates block and support. The competing teams include Perth's West Coast Evils and Rumble Bees, WA Roller Derby, and South Australia's Adelaide Rads and Adelaide Ads.
With WA ranked 5th and South Australia 4th nationally, these matches are among the highest-ranked roller derby contests WA has ever hosted. Lauren Waye, president of Perth Roller Derby, noted that Perth's isolation has made it difficult to host national teams, making this weekend a massive opportunity for the sport in the state.
Isabelle Hermes from the Adelaide Roller Derby league, whose nickname is 'Ankle Grinder', said around 30 players are making the trip. 'Perth are always such excellent opponents, they're tough and hit hard but are also super respectful and kind on and off the track,' she said. 'Events like this are really important for us — it's what we train for.'
Matches will be held at 1 pm, 3 pm, and 5 pm. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children aged 5 to 11, available online or at the door. Waye hopes the event will pave the way for more national roller derby events in WA, despite challenges in securing venues for longer tournaments.
