Melbourne Mavericks have re-signed one of Super Netball’s shooting stars
The collapse of Collingwood’s Super Netball franchise gave Shimona Jok a different perspective. Now, she has a new deal at the Mavericks and is one of the competition’s rising stars.
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Seemingly on the Super Netball scrap heap just two years ago, Shimona Jok has won a new contract with the Melbourne Mavericks, showing herself to be a priority signing for the club as just the third player to ink a deal for next season.
Wondering where her future lay after being among players axed when the Collingwood Magpies collapsed two years ago and initially left without a contract in the world’s best league last year, Jok joined the Mavs as a training partner for their inaugural season before finishing as club MVP after a stunning rise.
She has gone from strength to strength this season, celebrating her 100th national league game and notching a 4000th goal as she underlined her standing as one of the league’s top holding shooters, approaching the league of greats Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and Grace Nweke.
After the turmoil of the past two seasons, Jok could be expected to be wary, at the very least, of the contracting period.
But the resilient 26-year-old said the prospect of losing a contract had given her the ability to be at peace with whatever decisions were made.
“It’s just a perspective of only controlling what I can control and just being kind along the way when I do it,” said Jok, who went back to her nursing studies when it seemed she would not be continuing life as a professional athlete.
“The situation doesn’t define me as a person who only makes me stronger.
“(But) it’s a great place to be in, a great space to feel certain about next year, so I won’t really take it lightly.
“I’ve worked hard for it so I’m really grateful to be able to be secured for next year.”
Mavs General Manager, Shae Bolton-Brown, praised Jok’s impact on and off the court.
“Shimona embodies everything we want this club to stand for – grit, growth and heart,“ Bolton-Brown said.
“Her journey from training partner to MVP last year was nothing short of inspirational, as was the way she’s come out again this year and put out consistent performances that prove 2024 was not just a flash in the pan.
“Without a doubt, she’s a Mavs fan favourite, she epitomises what it means to be a Maverick, so we’re thrilled to have her in our colours again in 2026.”
Jok is just the third player after defender Kim Brown and captain Amy Parmenter, to be contracted for next year, with uncertainty still lingering over a range of players, including import goaler Eleanor Cardwell and coach Tracey Neville.
Again, that’s something that’s not in Jok’s control, so she’s not going to sweat over it, despite regarding her Mavericks teammates as her family after finding a new love for the game last year.
“Everything has happened for a reason and I think whatever happened in 2024, it really just gave me a different perspective,” she said.
“It’s okay not to be contracted, it’s how you react. It’s how you show up. It’s how you take the lemon that you’ve given and make a sweet juice of lemonade and I think from that perspective, I’ve literally stepped into a different light of netball.
“I’ve grown to love it even more. I did love it but I’ve grown to love it even more because of the perspective that I was given in 2024 and I don’t think I will ever go back into (thinking) netball is just a sport – it’s not – you literally play with these girls 24/7, they’re your family and I’m going to do anything to protect them.”
The Mavs have seven players now off contract, who they can negotiate with at any time before other clubs are able to talk to them following the Super Netball grand final.
No player can currently be contracted past 2026 when the current broadcast cycle ends.
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