Magpies midcourter Kim Ravaillion reveals exhaustion at season end almost forced her from the court

Six years of backing up for consecutive domestic and international seasons had taken their toll on Magpies midcourter Kim Ravaillion to the point that she resented playing before her self-enforced break.

Kim Ravaillion of the Magpies looks to pass the ball during the round seven Super Netball match between the Giants and the Magpies at Qudos Bank Arena on June 17, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Magpies midcourter Kim Ravaillion has revealed she was so exhausted before an end-of-season trip away with partner Adam Treloar that she had started to resent playing.

The 25-year-old, already with 60 Test caps to her name, said she was mentally and physically drained.

“I felt like the more I tried to push myself, the more I resented playing,” she said this week.

“I was affecting the people around me and I didn’t want to be that person.

“I don't play netball because of the money or anything like that, I look back at why I played and it was because I was having fun and I really enjoyed being there.”

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“I think the smart decision was to just take time away instead of just pushing on which is what I was doing for probably two years.”

The Diamonds centre pulled out of international duties at the back-end of 2018 and recharged in her off-season by travelling to Bali and the US with her partner, Collingwood footballer Treloar.

Kim Ravaillion recharged batteries with a holiday to Bali and the US.

“It was amazing. We actually got some quality time together,” Ravaillion said.

“We do live in the same house, but it’s very rarely we cross paths. He’s training, I’m training, we’re always in and out of the house.

“So it was good to get away, travel America together and kind of be normal.”

Ravaillion said being in a relationship with a fellow sportsperson had been mutually beneficial.

“We understand the demands of our sports and mentally it can be really tough,’’ Ravaillion said.

“I think having that same job we know how to handle it. In the fact that if he is down, I know what to do and if I’m down, he knows what to do.

“We are always there for each other and we know what to do for each other.”

Although Ravaillion admitted Treloar had been a little bit too supportive at times.

“He told me he wanted to wear my dress (to the games),’’ Ravaillion laughed.

Collingwood and Diamonds midcourter Kim Ravaillion says the break was just what was needed to revive her passion for the game.

“I said, ‘Maybe not, I don't wear your jersey to the games. Just stay hidden, you stand out enough as it is, you are just going to be attacked if you wear my dress’. It was funny.”

Entering her third season with the Magpies, Ravaillion said she knew it was time to take a break when her body couldn’t keep up and it impacted her on-court decision making.

“I was just at 70 per cent. I couldn’t push myself past that and I was making terrible decisions out there,” Ravaillion said.

“Mentally it was just exhausting and my body just wasn’t keeping up with my mind.

“It was six years where I had the (domestic) season, international (netball), season, international.

“I think the biggest break I got was two weeks for the year. And even in the two weeks we were constantly training. So there is no real break. But I got a real break this time and it was great.”

Kim Ravaillion lines up against Sunshine Coast Lightning at Melbourne Arena on Saturday.

Ravaillion said she had recaptured her passion for netball and was ready to find her best form on court, starting against Sunshine Coast Lightning at Melbourne Arena on Saturday afternoon.

“The realisation to me was if you’re not having fun then why are you doing it? I was like, ‘you need a break, take time away from the sport, miss it, come back and give it another crack’.

“I think it was the best thing for me. I just needed to miss it and come back and really attack it like I would four years ago when I was in my prime.”

With a new coach (Rob Wright), new-look team and new “vibe” at the Magpies after missing the finals last year, Ravaillion was confident of finding her best form again.

“I’m striving for perfection so there is always room for improvement, but I feel really good,’’ she said.

“I'm in a good mindset and I'm in a good place body-wise to get back to where I was.”