Hannah Dodd will finally link up with the Just Better Care Roller Hawks for a full round when they host the Red Dust Heelers this weekend. 

It’s been a whirlwind month of hoops and travel for the Australian captain that began when she departed Frankfurt after finishing her season with German club Rhine River Rhinos, arriving back in Australia on 27th May. Two days later she was suiting up for the Sydney Uni Lions in the Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball League. Immediately after the third game of that round, she flew to Melbourne for a camp with the Aussie Gliders in Melbourne.

After three days in camp, the Gliders flew to Madrid for the IWBF Women’s repechage for the final four spots at the World Championships. 

The Gliders finished second in their pool and overpowered Argentina 63-34 in the crossover game on June 11th to book their ticket to the World Championships. Dodd got back on a plane to Australia the same day, landing in Brisbane on June 13th and meeting up with the Roller Hawks midway through their weekend against the Spartans. 

Dodd then was back in the air last Friday to play three games for Sydney Uni against the Victoria Wonders.

“⁠It’s been a wild one!” said Dodd.

“Usually most airlines are decent for long haul. I do it so regularly for the last few years that I can do it pretty seamlessly with sleep and recovery and don’t suffer jet lag too horribly nowadays.

The travel is all worth it when success comes with it. The Gliders are excited to be headed to the World Championships in Canada after missing out on the Paralympics two years ago.

“Obviously there was some trepidation going through repechage after last time but everyone has really been putting the work in and it showed - I’m really excited to be headed back to the world stage.”

“No tournament or game ever goes exactly to plan and we are still getting used to the new system in some areas so there were situations where the timing or communication of things were off but overall it was where we wanted to be.”

The World Championships will be held in Ottawa, Canada 9-19th September and Dodd says there were plenty of positive signs under new coach Jeremy Synot.

“We’ve got a pretty good mix of experience and developing players at the moment. Again we’re still settling in the new systems and for some new roles so it will take a bit to get confident and comfortable.”

Dodd felt there were positive signs under new head coach Jeremy Synot.

“Jeremy was good to work under. I haven’t had him as a coach before so I didn't know what to expect but he’s working hard to find roles for everyone to succeed in.”

Dodd has also been named in Australia’s 3X3 team for the Commonwealth Games meaning she’ll fly back to the other side of the world next month to compete in Glasgow. 

In Birmingham 2022 the Australian women’s wheelchair team won silver alongside the men’s wheelchair team who claimed gold, the men’s able bodied team who won silver and the women’s able bodied team who won bronze.

“Last Games was the first time we got to compete alongside our able bodied counterparts and it was just so fun to be a part of something for the very first time. I’m stoked to be going back for a second Games, I think our team is well balanced and hopefully we can go one better this time around.”

For now Dodd is excited to be back in red and black, able to contribute in whichever way is needed with the recruitment of Phil Evans meaning she no longer has to be the linchpin of the Roller Hawks starting line up and can be used more sparingly amidst a hectic domestic and international schedule.

“We haven’t really had the chance to discuss anything. Due to the conflicting schedules I wasn’t available a lot this year. So it was a good score to get Phil and be able to utilise our other low pointers more.”

A Taste of Things to Come

This weekend the Roller Hawks host the Red Dust Heelers across three games at Shellharbour City Stadium. The Heelers sit one game behind the Roller Hawks in the ladder and will be keen to topple the home side.

This weekend’s results could have long term ramifications for the make up of the ladder at the end of the season and could be the difference between second chance and sudden death basketball come Finals time.

It also gives both sides a taste of what to expect the following weekend when the two teams meet as part of the second Kevin Coombs Indigenous Round.

By then the Roller Hawks expect to have Jontee Brown back but the Heelers will have 2025 high point MVP Jaylen Brown back. Both players are currently playing in the championship series for the Beşiktaş in Turkey.

Great Sport, Great Support

The Roller Hawks were buoyed by enthusiastic crowds in their home opener last weekend and are hoping for an even bigger turn out following their home opener.

Tickets are just $5 for adults and free for under 18s.

The Roller Hawks will play three games in 5 on 5 and two games in 3X3 at Shellharbour City Stadium June 26-28. All 5 on 5 games are live streamed on the Wheelchair Basketball Australia YouTube channel.

SEASON DRAW FULL FIXTURES go to rollerhawks.com.au or wba.net.au 

ROUND 3 – vs RED DUST HEELERs

Shellharbour City Stadium

FRI 26 June (Shellharbour City Stadium)

6:15pm - 3x3

7:00pm - 5 on 5

SAT 27 June (Shellharbour City Stadium)

2:15pm - 3x3

3:00pm - 5 on 5

SUN 28 June (Shellharbour City Stadium)

11:00am - 5 on 5