Defining the next era of Aussie pickleball: The Real Dill x NPL
When you step through the doors of The Real Dill, the first thing you notice isn’t the echo of ball on paddle — it’s the energy. This electric buzz of people connecting, playing, and staying well past their court hire because the atmosphere is that fun. On launch weekend, the space filled fast and stayed full. Music bumped. Coffee brewed. Dessert served on tap… how could you ever leave?
As founders Joseph “Joe” Pardillo and Ronielo “Ronnie” Kinaadman watched it all unfold, they saw exactly what they’d hoped to build. Not just a venue, but a home base for a fast-growing community.
“We wanted people to walk in and immediately feel like, ‘yeah, this is what pickleball should feel like,” Ronnie reflects.
The Real Dill, West Melbourne’s newest dedicated pickleball facility, is now open to the community. Here’s a sneak peek into how it came to be, what the brand stands for, and what else the founders have in store.
Meet the founders
Chances are, you’ve never heard an origin story like this one before.
Joe and Ronnie’s friendship began decades ago in the cool streets of Melbourne’s West Footscray.
“Our story goes all the way back to when we were young kids, really,” Ronnie recalls. “Joe and my brother Roland went to kindergarten together. We lived on the same road, but in different flats, maybe a couple of hundred metres apart. We eventually moved away from Footscray, and my parents bought a new house. It was just a coincidence that Joe’s parents bought in the same street again. We were just a few houses down this time. We pretty much grew up together.”
Sports were a key part of their story since childhood. “Ronnie is the oldest brother of Roland, who was my bestie. We first played the game of paddle with plastic bats on the streets growing up. We would take out the bats and have a hit, like plastic versions of pickleball paddles. Fast forward decades later, and here we are.”
Yet, despite a childhood connection that seemingly manifested this future, Joe and Ronnie only first learned of pickleball at the start of this year.
“My family came back from an overseas trip in January. As soon as my reception kicked in when I landed back in Oz, the first message I saw was from my neighbour. He said, ‘Are you guys back from holiday? There are a few pickleballs that have lobbed over the fence. Can you please throw them back?’ and I kid you not, that was the first time I’d ever heard about pickleball,” Joe laughs.
Eventually, Joe located the ‘odd-looking balls’ on the side of the house and chucked them over the fence. Little did he know this was only the beginning of his journey.
“For the next few weeks, [my neighbour] begged me to play in the street and come to social tournaments on Sundays. I think I rejected him six or seven times before I finally went. I sent a group message saying, ‘I’m getting pestered by my neighbour to play pickleball. Who’s in?’ and the first person that responded was Ronnie. And in capital letters, he said, ‘I’M IN.'”
Before facing the group, Joe and Ronnie ventured off to find their own practice sessions. ‘We went to a beginner learn-to-play session at The Jar in South Melbourne. And that was it. It was all over from there. It was the first time I’d picked up a paddle and played in a competitive nature, and that week I was ordering a $500 paddle online.”
What began as childhood games in Footscray quickly grew into a vision for something much bigger. Catch a full timeline of how that spark became The Real Dill at the end of this article.
The ‘Real Dill’
From inception, The Real Dill has been about more than just the game. “From the get-go, we wanted to set a culture and bring to life that culture beyond the game of pickleball itself,” Joe explains.
Authenticity, inclusivity, and community are the pillars of the brand. The founders have created a space where players, beginners and seasoned pros alike can feel welcome.
The name itself captures that ethos. “It’s a bit of fun, but also about keeping it real,” they say.
“We’ve already seen a lot of customers wearing our apparel with pride. We want to have that aspiration for beginners and those learning to play to become ‘the Real Dill’ in pickleball, and to wear our brand as a sort of trademark to say ‘I’m making it. I’m becoming the real deal.’ We would love to have that in everyone’s vernacular.”
This idea of ‘keeping it real’ extends to every corner of this venue — from the courts to the cafe bench Ronnie handcrafted himself, to the way players interact and share experiences.
Inside the place built for play
Finding the right space was almost serendipitous. Ronnie came across a venue “in what we always imagined being the prime location on our side [of Melbourne]. The gods must have been in our favour, because whenever I envisaged it, it was always sort of in this precinct or on the street that we’re on now. And that just happened to be available.”
When they first came into the space, “our eyes just fell out because we could really visualise it. How the reception would look, how this hangout space could look. And three months later, we’re launching what we feel is setting the standard for what a dedicated venue should look like,” says Joe.
They’ve created a space that feels like a destination. An experience people want to share through their socials. A place where people want to stay and hang out, not just play and leave.
“You know you’ve done a good job when they walk through the door and out come the cameras immediately,” Joe laughs.
The venue has a unique set-up, positioning the reception area slightly separate from the courts area. As you walk in, you’re greeted (most likely by Ronnie), checked in, and then it’s onto the grand reveal.
One of the first parts of that reveal is a true heirloom — the cafe bench, handcrafted by Ronnie himself. Ronnie spent over four weeks, day and night, chiselling, polishing, and perfecting the cafe bench, which Joe describes as “the milestone moment.”
The vision was for a ‘Wimbledon vibe,’ creating a prestigious look and feel. Upon entry, you’re met with a rich forest green interior. Four royal blue courts with dedicated Joola pickleball nets fill the space, complimented by custom dividers, iconic orange Aperol Spritz umbrellas and lawn chairs, a mezzanine with bean bags, string lights, white fencing… It’s truly a sight to behold.
“We were doing some inspirational colour coding, and when we saw the royal blue next to the Wimbledon-esque theme, we fell in love with it.”
“It’s something we’re really proud to show off,” says Ronnie.
Powered by NPL: The partnership
As if the founders’ friendship story and run-in with pickleball didn’t feel enough out of a movie, the beginnings of the partnership with the National Pickleball League (NPL) might just be one for the big screen.
“We were signed up to play at another venue. The instructor fell injured and cancelled the session, so we had to find a backup. And that’s how we found The Jar.”
From that initial learn-to-play session at The Jar at the start of the year, Joe and Ronnie continued to fall in love with the sport, slowly igniting this desire to build their own facility on their side of town.
“I then took my team to The Jar, as it’s near my office, and ran a half-day corporate event there. It was nearly 30 of us, and everyone loved it,” Joe recalls. “At the end of the session, I went up to the desk to buy some paddles and wristbands to give away as trophies to my team. The guy who served me was wearing the NPL logo on his polo.”
That turned out to be Ron Shell, CEO of the NPL.
Joe proposed the two go out for coffee to chat more about the business of pickleball and what it took to launch a facility like The Jar.
“We set a coffee date, and four coffee dates later (while updating Ronnie on the side), we launched The Real Dill,” recalls Joe.
For Joe and Ronnie, partnering with NPL was the launchpad to developing a world class facility and brand in record time.
“Coming from my background in media and advertising, I understand the power of the brand. We wanted to ensure we had something like the NPL to propel our vision and provide us with the stamp of approval and verification that we are part of them. It drives us to ensure we’re setting the same benchmarks they’ve set,” Joe explains.
“By partnering with them, we have an obligation to represent the brand and ensure whatever we create, the environment, the space and the runoff areas, are perfect. Down to the details as to the type of nets we have and the quality of what we’re using meets what they have created as the benchmark in Australia.”
The Real Dill and the NPL are united in their vision and mission — to grow the game, to grow the community, and to create a more accessible place for people to come and play.
“For NPL, we know that it’s easier to achieve our vision of fast-tracking Pickleball participation via carefully selected partnerships like the real Dill and working lock-step with other groups who share our vision – a premium but inclusive sport for everyone,” says Ron Shell, CEO of NPL. “From Day 1 – Joe sprouted that ‘same vision’ and finding a way to be official partners was the priority and the blueprint for easier growth Australia-wide!”
NPL will be supporting the Real Dill through operational, marketing and pathways support and you might catch an NPL Pro Player or Div 2 player any day of the week there!
Just the beginning
In its first month, The Real Dill has already smashed records and created a thriving and loyal community.
For Joe, Ronnie and their partners at the NPL, the launch of The Real Dill is truly only the beginning. Looking forward, they envision a future where the brand expands, more Real Dills pop up, and where the culture they’ve nurtured inspires players across Victoria, Australia, and beyond.
The journey from a driveway paddle game to a benchmark-setting venue is as unique as the founders themselves. The approach has been rapid but thoughtful and intentional. And each step — from the first session at The Jar, to the corporate event, to meeting NPL, to finding the perfect space and creating the perfect venue — represents another chapter in this unbelievable story.
Moving forward, Joe and Ronnie are continuing to add offerings to their schedule of events at The Real Dill. Be sure to follow along their journey @ therealdill.au on socials, and book your next session via their website.
See you on the courts!
