‘I can’t keep up with you’: The moment Queensland Firebirds and Australia Diamonds great Kim Ravaillion knew it was time to retire

A quip from a former Diamonds’ teammate was all Kim Ravaillion needed to know that retirement beckoned for the Super Netball great.

Retirement – it is a word that has danced through Firebirds’ captain Kim Ravaillion’s mind multiple times since her horror back injury- but an on court moment with Diamonds’ Liz Watson forced her to make a decision.

Ravaillion was marked up against Watson at the weekend – the Lightning the victors over their Queensland rivals.

“On the court on the weekend I knew I probably wouldn’t have the impact an X-Factor player would but I knew I could get in there and create, be an option.

“But there was a moment when I was playing against Lizzie and I grabbed her.

“She said ‘so you are grabbing me now Rav’.

“And I said yeah, I can’t keep up with you.

“That’s when I knew it was my moment to go.”

Kim Ravaillion has won it all in netball. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

Ravaillion has captained the side for the past three years, helping guide her teammates through some tough times on and off the court.

The mere fact Ravaillion, 30, is even on the court this season is remarkable.

She suffered a horrible back injury late last year which required spinal surgery.

The 60-Capped Diamond gave her recovery and rehab everything she had.

“I’ve pushed myself as hard as I can to get back to this level but when players like (Watson) are still pushing ahead that’s when I know that I’m done.”

Ravaillion said there was a part of her that had hoped she would be able to play another season.

Part of Kim Ravaillion wanted another season. Picture: Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images

“But I’ve had set back after set back this year,” she said.

“I’ve tried my hardest to get back to that elite level but I’m really struggling to pick things up, trying to get back to what I used to be.

“I just had this moment where I thought I’m done. If I push myself I’m just going to injure myself and it’s just not worth it.

“What’s more important is being the best mum I can be.”

There is a glimmer of tears in her eyes as she says those words “I’m done”.

But it is soon followed by a smile as Ravaillion ponders what life without Super Netball or the Firebirds might look like.

There is no talk of coaching or commentating- it’s all focus on reuniting with her AFL playing partner Adam Treloar, more time with her four-year-old daughter Georgie and getting back to being a mum.

Returning to play for the Firebirds in 2021, a year after having Georgie, meant leaving Treloar behind in Melbourne.

“It’s been tough and it is part of the reason why I’m hanging up the dress, I want to get back to him,” she said.

“I’m grateful that he let me go away and pursue my dream but I’ve come to a point here I can’t keep up anymore and I really want to go home and be a family.

“I know it was hard for him to say go and do it and deep down he didn’t want me to go but he knew that I’d have been an unhappy Rav if I hadn’t stepped out and done what I’ve done over the past four years.

“I’m in a place where I’m okay, I’ve don’t it, I’ve loved it.

“But I’m ready to get home and maybe have another baby, just be a family and support him and be a mum to Georgie, be more present.”

Kim Ravaillion alongside husband and Western Bulldog player Adam Treloar, and daughter Georgie.

While it has been a juggle and an incredible sacrifice Ravaillion knows it was the right choice.

“It’s something that I’m really proud of- to go and have a baby and then come back and play at the elite level,” she said.

“To show Georgie what she can do in years to come, when she wants to pursue whatever career she does that you can do both.

“I haven’t done it on my own, I’ve had so much support around me and I probably wouldn’t have been able to do it without that support.

“I encourage more women to not sit down and set their career aside because they are a mum but to get out there and show them that you can do all the things that you want to do.”

Ravaillion’s career hasn’t ended on the high it started on with the Firebirds. She made the finals four years in a row in her first four seasons- winning back to back premierships in 2015-16.

Injury aside this season has been tough, especially with coach Bec Bulley stepping down mid-season.

Ravaillion is happy to settle with finishing her career with a win against the Vixens in front of a home crowd at Nissan this weekend.

One of the greats 💜💎

Congratulations to Kim Ravaillion, who has called time on her netball career. pic.twitter.com/JR4IpaCb59

— Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) July 9, 2024

She has no doubt the team will regroup next season and be able to return to being a Super Netball Force.

“We haven’t got it right in the last couple of years” she said.

“We learned from that.

“As you have seen over the last couple of rounds its been about finding that consistency and being able to back that up every single week.

“ But that comes over time it will be able to grow.

“Getting that right person that knows how to manage players, that knows how to get the best out of those players and the belief in those players, is what is going to happen.”

Of all the memories and achievements- including a Commonwealth Games and World Cup gold- it is the 2015 grand final win with the Firebirds that Rav treasures most.

“I just remember that we were favourites the whole year and in that game the Swifts had the better of us until there was 40 seconds to go and it took Geitzy to say a few words.

“I just remember going holy crap we are gonna win this game and the confidence and the belief we had in each other in that moment is what stole that game from the Swifts.

“I watched it probably a month ago when I was struggling to get back with my rehab to remind myself that’s how good I used to be.

“That’s how good we can be.

“I just love watching it back and the memories that come from it. And I’m like that’s what the Firebirds are.”

Originally published as ‘I can’t keep up with you’: The moment Queensland Firebirds and Australia Diamonds great Kim Ravaillion knew it was time to retire