Kim Ravaillion has completed a successful return to netball by being crowned the Queensland Firebirds Most Valuable Player for the 2021 Suncorp Super Netball league season.
The dynamic centre polled 38 votes to claim the Laura Geitz Medal by a single vote ahead of star goal shooter Romelda Aiken, at a small event in front of players and staff on Saturday night.
Ravaillion cleaned up by also taking out the Players’ Player of the Year and the Members’ Player of the Year in her first season back after pregnancy and her highly anticipated return to the Firebirds.
Coach Megan Anderson was full of praise for her co-vice captain.
“It was certainly an impressive season from Kim, but knowing how meticulous she is around planning and being prepared for netball and life in general, I definitely wasn't surprised,” she said.
“I was most impressed with how she built across the season.
“She came back into training super fit, but not netball fit, so she just continued to demand more form herself each training and game in order to be the best athlete she could be.”
The 28-year-old experienced a roller coaster ride of emotions from the end of 2020 until now, though Ravaillion did not let the tumultuous 12-month period impact her performances.
Moving to Queensland away from her partner and AFL star Adam Treloar who stayed in Melbourne, which saw the pair attract their fair share of critics who questioned if the arrangement would work.
With Ravaillion cleaning up three awards and Treloar playing in a semi-final for the Western Bulldogs on the same night, many would say the pair silenced those critics.
“It was a big year for Kim, she moved interstate the same year she had Georgie, away from her fiancé to step back on a court when she hadn't played for over 18 months,” Anderson detailed
“That takes bravery and a determination that doesn't stem from proving anything to anyone but yourself.
“She's incredibly self-motivated and that's one of the best things about her, she knows if she's at her best it helps her teammates. She's such a selfless player on the court.”
Despite stealing the spotlight at the awards ceremony with three awards to her name, Ravaillion’s coach is confident the 2021 Laura Geitz Medallist will not be fully comfortable with the attention.
“I don't think she is phased whether she wins awards or not but it will be a great reward for her and will acknowledge the sacrifices she's made this year to get back on the court,” she said.
“She'll probably be very flattered with the Players’ Player and Members’ Player awards because she would love that her teammates chose her, she really does play for them.
“She'll also love that she has brought joy to the Purple Family members, she really does thrive and love playing for this club.”
Aiken finished runner-up in the MVP Award falling short by just one vote after an impressive season of her own where she netted 531 goals and recorded a league-high 87 offensive rebounds.
Gretel Bueta and Kim Jenner finished equal third with 21 votes further highlighting why the pair were selected in the Origin Australian Diamonds squad.
The other award winner on the night was Lara Dunkley with the midcourter receiving the Spirit Award, highlighting her positivity and care for all around her.
