Bueta and Ravaillion star as Firebirds outclass Thunderbirds

New mums Kim Ravaillion and Gretel Bueta have guided the Firebirds to a win over the Thunderbirds on Mother’s Day.

The Firebirds’ 96% shot accuracy helped them get the job done on Sunday. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

Returning Firebird Kim Ravaillion has drawn on the “mum strength” provided by baby Georgie to cap her comeback from maternity leave with a Mother’s Day MVP performance as Queensland notched their first Super Netball win of the season.

The Firebirds beat Adelaide Thunderbirds 68-57 in front of more than 3000 fans at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena but to Ravaillion, none of those present was more special than one-year-old Georgie.

A former premiership player with the Firebirds, Ravaillion linked with Collingwood for the start of Super Netball in 2017 but has returned to her former stomping ground refreshed and ready to lead Queensland back to the playoffs.

“I used to care so much about making a mistake or an error and put that on me,” said Ravaillion, whose 16 goal assists and 35 circle feeds in 56 minutes of relentless effort guided the Firebirds home.

“Being a mum, you need to get on with it really quickly – you can’t dwell on the baby doing a poo, you’ve got to get on with it, so it’s a good mindset to have to get on with your job.”

Ravaillion’s efforts just shaded shooter Gretel Bueta, who celebrated her first Mother’s Day with an outstanding showing of her own just four months after giving birth to son Bobby.

Ravaillion said having Bueta by her side, and mums Megan Anderson (head coach) and Clare Ferguson (assistant coach) on the sidelines was inspirational.

A strong first quarter put the Firebirds in front. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

“Having Grets also being a mum and Clare and Megan, I think everyone understands it on another level and we bounce off each other – if we’re sleep-deprived or anything we bounce off each other and get each other through it,” she said.

“The (Firebirds) girls have been amazing and if anything it builds a little family away from our actual family and that’s why I think the Firebirds have something so special – we’re building that unbreakable bond.”

The Firebirds sprinted from the blocks, establishing a 10-goal lead late in the first quarter but the Thunderbirds fought back time and again before conceding.

Goaler Sam Gooden contributed 16 goals to the Thunderbirds tally and kept them in the game with six successful super shots, including four in the first quarter alone.

Adelaide’s defence was also outstanding, with goalkeeper Shamera Sterling finishing with six gains and 10 deflections and forming an at-times impenetrable zone with Latanya Wilson, while the club’s young midcourters continue to grow.

But the lack of experience and the Firebirds’ ability to ride the momentum shifts with clever rotation of players from coach Anderson got the home side over the line comfortably.

QUEENSLAND THUNDERBIRDS 68 (Aiken 34, Bueta 21, Dwan 13) def ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS 57 (Potgieter 30, Gooden 22, Horjus 5).