IDOL, babysitter, teammate, friend - Queensland Firebirds captain Kim Ravaillion has played a variety of roles in Macy Gardner’s life.
Gardner was just 12 when Ravaillion and fellow NSW product Gabi Simpson moved to Queensland in 2012 to join the Firebirds.
The duo would often babysit Gardner, providing inspiration as she carved her own path through Netball Queensland’s pathways before making her own Firebirds debut in 2019.
A contracted player in 2020, Gardner is back on the fulltime list for the 2023 season but admits it still feels odd to now find herself on the same team as the women she idolised a decade ago.
“It's weird now that I'm older and Rav and I are actually really good friends where she probably would babysit me when I was like 12,” Gardner said.
“Now that we're both older and I'm more mature we actually get along really well as friends and now teammates which is cool.
“Even the same with Gabs, I used to play games with them out in the backyard. They would just play with me and now we're teammates and good friends - that's cool!”
While Gardner and Ravaillion are teammates, it hasn’t stopped the youngster soaking up all she can from Ravaillion’s example.
Results in pre-season training highlight Gardner’s dedication and commitment, with highlights including squatting twice her own body weight in the gym and setting a personal best with a level 18.1 in the Yo-Yo fitness test.
Gardner says it’s a no-brainer to model her approach on Ravaillion as she eyes off a breakthrough 2023 campaign.
“Rav's reached the pinnacle of success in pretty much all of netball,” she said.
“She's won premierships and been a part of really successful teams. Played for the Diamonds and won massive competitions.
“Just see the way she holds herself and the way she goes about being an elite athlete - how could I not want to copy what she does?
“Just pushing myself to get the best out of myself and that's trying to push Rav as well.”
While Ravaillion’s own career is far from finished, the 29-year-old is eager to make sure when she does hang up her netball shoes that the Firebirds’ centre bib is in safe hands.
“I want to leave my position in the best place possible, for hopefully her to come in and take over and be the next centre for the Queensland Firebirds and carry that on for years to come,” Ravaillion said of Gardner.
“If anything, it's just being that mentor and ensuring that I leave this environment and the culture of the group in really good hands.”
