Kim Ravaillion spinal surgery setback hits Queensland Firebirds for Super Netball start
Queensland Firebirds captain Kim Ravaillion will likely be missing from the start of the Super Netball season after undergoing spinal surgery last month, reports LINDA PEARCE.
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The Queensland Firebirds will likely be without captain Kim Ravaillion for the early rounds of the Super Netball season, after the experienced midcourter underwent spinal surgery last month.
NSW shooter Ali Miller, 27, has been elevated to the squad as a temporary replacement player, following a pre-Christmas operation for an undisclosed issue that will likely sideline the 30-year-old Ravaillion for the Firebirds’ pre-season matches and a period beyond.
“Kim is already getting stuck into her rehab program and things are progressing well for her to be back on court early in the SSN season,’’ Firebirds head coach Bec Bulley said in a statement to CODE Sports.
“Anyone who knows Kim is aware she’s the ultimate professional and I have no worries that she’ll tick every box in her recovery.
“With Donnell Wallam also away on Diamonds duty in England, it made sense to elevate Ali and give us extra options with our shooters, with our other training partners giving us midcourt cover until Kim returns.’’
Interestingly, Wallam revealed to CODE before departing for the UK that she had only been offered a one-year contract to continue at the Firebirds and would ultimately like to return home to Western Australia.
The Ravaillion news is an unwelcome setback for the Firebirds, after a challenging year in which they parted with assistant coach Sara Francis-Bayman just days before opening their first season under Bulley, who had signed a four-year deal.
They then dropped their opening five games before finishing with four wins and 10 losses — just one per cent ahead of wooden-spooner Collingwood, which had confirmed in May it would be relinquishing its licence in 2024.
On the court, as Ravaillion had begun to spend more time at wing defence than her usual role at centre, long-serving former captain Gabi Simpson failed to win a new contract and was eventually replaced by mature-aged training partner Hulita Veve, in a midcourt originally completed by Ravaillion, Lara Dunkley and Macy Gardner.
Wallam’s close friend and fellow shooter Mia Stower was also cut, replaced by Adelaide Thunderbirds premiership goal attack Tippah Dwan, who has returned home to Brisbane after two seasons away.
Diamonds squad member Ruby Bakewell-Doran and Remi Kamo will continue in defence, augmented by local youngster Isabelle Shearer in place of the departed Ash Unie.
Miller aside, the Firebirds’ training partners are Queensland pathway products Rylee Burns, Lillyana Rennie and Sasha-May Flegler. The Firebirds play their opening match of 2024 against the Thunderbirds on April 13.
Originally from Sydney, World Cup and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ravaillion was a member of the Firebirds’ 2015-16 premiership sides before joining the Magpies in 2017, then returned in 2021 after missing a season due to the birth of daughter Georgie and was appointed captain in 2022.
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Originally published as Kim Ravaillion spinal surgery setback hits Queensland Firebirds for Super Netball start
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