The Netball Show
S7 Ep35: Kim Ravaillion (11th July 2024)
The net will show with Flyhawk, raising the bar for netball and winning sports. It's in a bullshit with Flyhawk. Big news in the sun caught this week. Kim Rivalian has announced the retirement. Let's hear from the press conference as she shared the news. I guess it wasn't up until I hit my back that it was a real reality check that I need to realise what's more important. Obviously I'm a mum. And going through that surgery process in the rehab and trying to get back to the elite level. It was playing on my mind that, "Oh yeah, maybe I could potentially play another year." But having set back after set back this year just made it a bit of a reality that, "Yeah, I've tried my hardest to get back to that elite level." But I am really struggling to be consistent and I was trying to get back to what I used to be. And I just had this moment on the weekend where I was like, "I'm done. I can't push myself there. I'm going to injure myself." And it's just not worth it. What's more important to me is being the best mum I can be to Georgie. And I need to close the book on this chapter of netball. So as sad as it is, my brain is telling me that I could play for another 10 years, but my body just isn't working with my brain. So that's kind of how I made that decision. Who was the best person you told? I'm obviously Adam speaking with him and, you know, he is that you need to make your own decisions. But I kind of just like wait for people to tell me what to do because I know that I will keep trying to push. And I have my whole career. I never want to give up. I always want to be at the top of my game, but my body just kind of gave up for me. So that's how I made that decision. He's been in on it the whole time. He's really excited to have me back home and just be there for him, but he's been my rock. So it's been nice having someone to talk to about it. He's also like, "Holy crap, I'm really scared for when it happens to me." And I'm like, "I'll be there to support you when that time comes." "How did your teammates take the news? How did you break it to them?" I told him this morning, I didn't realize how hard it was going to be. As soon as I stepped up to talk in front of them, my heart rate went through the roof and I lost it. I told him I was going to Paris to be breakdancer. And, you know what? They took it with me. They actually believed me. But no, they, yeah, they took it really well. They've obviously rode the waves in me this whole year, seeing me battle. But also seeing a bit of a smile on my face to overcome the surgery. But, yeah, the understanding, the support that they've given me. And, yeah, they just, I feel like this weekend's game will be pretty special. I really want to get the win. That would just make it a really good finish for me. But if we don't, then, you know, I'm just happy I get to play my last game in the Purple Dress. Yeah, so it's not effective immediately. There is one last dance. Absolutely. I just need to get through the next train session. How much does this club mean to you? Everything. I think it's written all over my face. You know, I got the opportunity at a young age to play with the firebeds. And I think, you know, at that time of getting that opportunity, a lot of people thought I wasn't ready for it. But Rosie Jenke believed in me and she gave it to me and she started me. And that kind of set off my career, really. And I will forever be grateful for putting on that Purple Dress being surrounded by the players that I was, but also being led by her. And, yeah, being able to become the player that I am today. So, fitting. It is very fitting that I've started my career with Rose and I'm potentially going to end it with her. So, I'm very grateful for the impact that she's had on me. But also, just that belief, all I needed as a young kid was a bit of belief. And I grabbed that with two hands and I finished the way that I have. So, yeah, I love this club. Obviously, the emotion in that game is, you know, whilst I can't get out there and do the things that I want to do. When the girls pulled out such great performances like that, I feel like I'm playing anyway. So, I felt that win as much as they did, even though I didn't play. So, that's why I was emotional. And every game that they do win, they'll probably get emotional, because, yeah, that's what you want to see. You want to see them have fun, you want to see them play well. And I was lucky enough to experience some pretty successful years at the start of my career. Four grand finals in my first four years. And I want those girls to experience that. You know, hasn't been smooth sailing this last four years that I've come back. But I made a promise to them that it's only going to get better from here. And they get to look forward to the next three, four years that they're here. What's next for you? You are going to stay involved with the club or netball as a whole? I love netball. Netball is like my boyfriend. Sorry, Adam. It has been, but I feel like I'm like breaking up with it. But I always want to be involved. I caught up with Kate and Adrian yesterday. So, it just sucks, because I just love the game so much. I'd love to be a part of it still somehow. I'm not sure how that will look. But, yeah, I'm just closing the playing side of it. And, hopefully, opening the door up to something really exciting. What that is, I don't know. So, we'll see. And how tough has the jungle been, elite sports, women and mum? It's been a juggle, but it's been something that I'm really proud of, you know, to go and have a baby and then come back and play at the elite level. And then show Georgie what she can do in years to come when she, you know, what's the pursue, whatever career she does that she can to do both. I haven't done it on my own. Obviously, I've had so much support around me and I probably wouldn't have been able to do it without that support. So, I'm grateful to have the village behind me to allow me to get out on that court, to allow Georgie to watch her mum be an elite athlete and her dad. So, yeah, I'm just proud. Like, I love that I've been able to do that and I encourage more women to not sit down and set their career aside because they're a mum, but to get out there and show them that you can do. All things that you want to. This is Stacey Francis-Bainman. Is your club looking for new kit? Don't forget to try the 3D kit designer online at flyhork.com. I can't go past my first win, which is the 2015 Grand Final. Third time lucky, it was our third Grand Final. You know, we were bridesmaids in the first two leading up to that one and I just remembered that we were the favourites the whole year. And in that game, Swift's had the better of us up until about 40 seconds to go. And it took Gazzi to say, you know, a few words, a really simple set play on our center bars. And I just remember going, "Holy crap, we're going to win this game." And the confidence and the belief we had in each other in that moment is what stole that game from the Swiss. And I think I liked it even more because it was a New South Wales Queensland rivalry. New South Wales didn't want me as a junior at Queensland did. And to get that win over them, that's when I knew I was a Queenslander. That's when I knew this is my state, this is my home. And that win just kind of was everything and the memories posted. I still always think, "Holy crap, how did we do that?" I watched it probably a month ago when I was struggling to get back with my rehab and I thought, "That's how good I used to be. That's how good we can be." And yeah, I just love watching it back and the memories that come from it. And like, that's what the Firebirds team is. That game, we never give up. And how would you like, I suppose, your legacy in that number club to be remembered or how do you feel that you've left the club, given how much time you've put into it? Ah, geez, I hope I'm remembered as someone who always stood true to themselves, someone who never, you know, shied away from saying what I believed in. I feel like I'm a really hard worker. I always respect whoever is talking to me. Regardless, if I lack or dislike their opinion, I'm always going to give them my full attention. But I will never ever shy away from saying what I believe is true and what is right. As a younger player coming in, that's something that, you know, the gutses and the clouds encouraged us young ones to do is to speak up. Even if you felt really shy or stuck in your little cage, it was like, "Use your voice because it's powerful." And then as I've progressed over the years, I've used that strength to really talk to these girls and look them in the eyes and, you know, something that really hit me yesterday was a ruby look to me in the eyes. And she just said, "I just love how you love all of us. I love how you fight for us. I love how you listen to us." And I said, "You know what, Rubes, I see that in you." And you've encouraged me to be like that, and you are the potential next leader of this club, and I expect you to do those things now. And so it's almost like delivering that button to her. But yeah, I just hope that the girls, remember me as that hard worker, even if things were tough, I'd just still push through. I wear my heart on my sleeve, crying when I'm sad, I'm happy, got a big smile on my face when I'm happy, but yeah, I just never, never pretend to be someone I'm not. When you talk about the start of your career, the absolute golden day, so the way you could have started, and then obviously the last few years have been quite tough, but to feel like this club can get back to that point. You talk about handing the baton over, but some of the talent that's in this team gets, young gets, raw, but it's there. Yeah, we have an incredible group. We haven't got it right in the last couple of years. We learn from that. We get the right people in. The group, as you have seen over the last couple of rounds, when we're on, we're on, it's fine in that consistency, and being able to back that up every single week. But that comes over time. It'll build, it'll grow, but, yeah, getting that right person in that knows how to manage players, that knows how to get the best out of those players, the belief in those players, to put in that work, to put in those games every single week is what is going to happen. I made a promise to Laura that she's had, you know, a rotation of two coaches that have come in. It's kind of been a bit crappy for her, but I said, I promise you that these next three or four years are going to be the best years of your life with this group, because this group, I don't think, will change too much. And they're going to build and get better and better and able to experience what I did at the first thought of my career. You said that there was a moment on the weekend when you sort of realized that, you know, this was the end, I guess, was that, I guess, like a standalone number, or is this a sign that had been sort of building through, I guess, your idea to strongly back? Yeah, I just had this moment. I have always been a grind type player. It's funny, I was talking to Gabby Simpson. She's like, you know, Rose put together this team and she had a couple of X factors. There was an X factor, a grinder, X factor, grinder, X factor, I was a grinder. So on the court, on the weekend, I knew that I probably won't make the impact that an X factor would, but I can get on there and I can create calmness, I can be the option, I can do the things. But in that game, on the weekend, there was a moment where I was playing against Lizzie and I like grabbed it and she's like, oh, you're grabbing me now, I was like, yeah, I can't keep up with you. And so that was my moment to go. I've pushed myself as hard as I can to get back to this level. But when players like you, I'm still pushing ahead. That's when I know that I'm done. And so I just had this moment, I'm content with where I'm at and I'm ready for Mesa Gaiden to come and take the reins. Step into that center position and build on it for the next 10 years. And I'll always be in a core knife. She needs a cooler advice, but I'm happy to be that support for using used to calm. - How hard is the last four years being for you, rather like you've made incredible sacrifices to leave out of down there, bring Georgie up here and leave this club. Like, as you mentioned, you're gonna get the opportunity now to be a family together once again, but how tough has that been for you to pursue your career separately together? - We've, it's been extremely difficult. Won't show away from saying that. And if so, the idea of it at the start was like, hell yeah, let's go achieve our careers and make the most of it. But the impact on our relationship and him being away from Georgie has been really tough. And so that is also a part of the reason why I'm hanging out the dress is because I need to give back to him. I'm grateful that he let me go away and pursue my dream, but I've come to a point where I can't keep up anymore and I really want to go home and be a family with him. And just thank him for letting me live out my career of being a professional netball. And he didn't, and I know it was hard for him to say, go and do it. And I know in him inside himself, he didn't want me to go, but he knew that I would have been a more unhappy rabbit if I hadn't have stepped out and done these past four years. And so now I feel like I'm in a place where I'm like, okay, I've done it now. I have loved it. You know, I love the game of Netty. I've come back to the club that I love to. I've tried and given my impact back to this club and now I get to go home and who knows, have another baby. But just be a family and support him, be a mum, to G, be with her, be more present. Just all these things I haven't done on the last four years that I'm really, really looking forward to. You know, you have a lot of mum guilt whilst you're selfishly getting out there and being a professional athlete. So I can't wait to just be present with G and with ads and back to Melbourne, unfortunately. - Was there a part of you, I guess, before the weekend that sort of still held out hope that you'd, you know, that you'd be able to continue to play on? - 100%. If we'd won, I'd be like, hell yeah, let's go. (laughs) But I feel like me being on the side at the moment is the strongest combination. So watching the girls get out there and play the best netty and like when you're content sitting on the side, you know that you're done. 'Cause when I don't have that urge to get out there and play, then I feel like I'm just taking up someone else's spot. So I'm so grateful for the career that I've had. I'm so grateful for the things that I've achieved. You know, I look back and I think holy crap. To think that this turtle that dad used to call me, the slow runner, but the one who never gave up. To achieve what I have since that moment, I'm so proud and I know that dad always believed me and always knew I would be where I am today. But yeah, I will hold my head high. Wishing that I didn't have the back surgery injury 'cause I know I would push on but I know that everything happens for a reason and I'm content with this decision and I just can't wait to go home and be a family with ads in Geordie. I feel like I just watched his photo doco and like he was saying that he didn't get emotional. He's like, I was surprised that he was an emotional and I feel like I'm kind of in the same way. I'm no further off God. But I feel like when that moment comes on the weekend, all of it will hit me and you'll probably see another crying face on the weekend. So I can't wait, yeah. Feeling that it's finishing here and also underrose. But yeah, I can just can't wait to say thank you to those beautiful fans that have made me feel at home the whole time I've been here. Can't wait. - And this weekend also sees fever playing maths, Dan Rian, Vee Tracey Neville, as it were, and an opportunity for fever to finish anywhere from first to third. - We're well aware of what the scenarios are and what it all looks like heading into this weekend. And then how exciting for the competition that you got three teams on 40 points, battling it out for those top two spots. So for us, we know that it's a must-win game against the Mavericks. It's going to be a hard-fought game, played like finals like Precious. So we need to be up for it. And we're looking for three consecutive wins on the trot. So it's a big game for us. And we want to make sure we show up again. - The net will show is now also available via Sky HD, Sky Q, and Sky Glass. So let's sport and we're on the podcast rail. (logo whooshing)
Kim Ravaillion has announced her retirement - We hear from Rav and also Dan Ryan who previews Fever V Mavs