STUNG by a Commonwealth Games omission she admits hit her harder than she expected, Queensland Firebirds captain Kim Ravaillion is expecting big things of herself and her teammates in 2023.
The experienced midcourter missed out on a spot in Australia’s 18-player squad for Birmingham, as well as the subsequent home series against New Zealand and England.
Not getting a Diamonds’ call-up had been painful for Ravaillion but also forced her to reflect on what she wants to achieve in her 10th season of national league representation.
“Missing out on Comm Games was devastating for me. I didn't think it was at the time but thinking that you've done everything you could and obviously missing out was hard,” Ravaillion said.
“Now it's just about playing and enjoying it and having fun again.
“It's really about just owning my position, being the best teammate and player that I can be in this environment and mainly getting success with this awesome club because we haven't had it in a while.”
Ravaillion was announced on Wednesday as captain by new Head Coach Bec Bulley – her premiership winning teammate in 2015 – for what will be her second season in the role after a maiden campaign as captain in 2022.
Ravaillion says Bulley’s ability to overcome the disappointment of missing out on the 2014 Commonwealth Games to be part of Australia’s successful World Cup campaign a year later was inspirational.
“Bec is an amazing coach but also a mentor for me and someone who's probably experienced exactly what I'd went through, having her there to talk about it - she missed out on Comm Games and then made the World Cup team - so, for me, it's like anything can happen,” she said.
“I'm not just going to close that door and think it's all over for me.
“It's more about playing well, enjoying it and if it happens, it happens, and if it doesn't then I'm content with what I've achieved in my career.”
The added responsibility of being Firebirds captain – in addition to her off-court roles as mother to daughter Georgie and businesswoman via her fitness app she operates with twin sister Jess – was another challenge Ravaillion learned from last year.
The 29-year-old admits she initially struggled with the burden of leadership but after working with leadership mentors such as Brisabane-based lawyer Joydeep Hor, she’s more comfortable with her role in the Firebirds squad.
“Going from someone who doesn't speak up very much and then having to be that person that spoke up all the time was a challenge for me, but also a really good learning,” she said.
“It made me step outside my comfort zone and have to do a bit more work outside of just playing.
“It was challenging, but also so exciting and something that I’m just working on.”
