Kim Ravaillion is one of Australia’s best and most prominent netball players. She’s represented Australia sixty times, won a Netball World Championship, a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games and back-to-back championships at a domestic level.
The 27-year-old has also just become a mother, and after a season away from Super Netball following the birth of her daughter, she is set to return for the 2021 season with the Queensland Firebirds.
But in recent weeks, Ravaillion has been dragged into headlines after her partner, AFL player Adam Treloar, was pushed out of his contract with the Collingwood Magpies during the trade period.
He ended up securing a deal with the Western Bulldogs, but not before Ravaillion’s decision to play Super Netball for Queensland next year was brought up in Treloar’s discussions with Collingwood’s management.
Ravaillion has since said she was used as a “scapegoat” by the AFL club, who said they didn’t think Treloar would manage being away from his partner and child for the season.
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In the media whirlwind surrounding the trade, Ravaillion was referred to as a “WAG”, as Treloar’s wife (despite not being married), and her career as one of Australia’s best professional athletes was belittled.
Good to see the boys club is alive and well🙄Hang your heads in shame Melbourne football media… Time we all called this out! pic.twitter.com/VKAWma6ZVF
— NSW Swifts (@NSWSwifts) November 14, 2020
Ravaillion does not, and should not, need to justify her decision to play netball for the Queensland Firebirds next season. When asked, she was generous enough to share with the media that it was something that she and Treloar had discussed at length, and they were happy that it is the best decision for their family.
“It would be so different if we were on the other side of the world from each other but it’s only interstate,” she told The Age recently.
“So many people think it is such a big deal but Adam and I are so independent and we always knew it would be hard with our first child – Georgie is going to be well travelled – but we are so young and we want to enjoy this life as much as we can, doing what we love.
“And that’s what we want to encourage Georgie to do. That’s just the way we are.”
Meanwhile, Treloar said it wasn’t an issue for them to be in different states for their respective seasons.
“I never considered playing footy in Queensland. It was never a reality for me….It was more the family side of things and whether or not they [Collingwood] could see me playing elite sport being away from my family. I well and truly believe I can. They were adamant they had to move me on,” he said.
As professional athletes, Ravaillion and Treloar are both clearly familiar with the dedication and sacrifice it takes to maintain their sporting careers. It’s something they’ve both been doing for years. Like so many young parents, they are now making difficult decisions as they learn to juggle their careers with parenthood.
And for Ravaillion, she deserves so much more than being constantly referred to as a “WAG” in the media. She is one of Australia’s best athletes and her career should never be reduced to less than her partner’s.
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