AFL blinkers on as good news lost
THE buried news line in Collingwood’s Adam Treloar trade saga is that Kim Ravaillion is returning to her home team, the Queensland Firebirds, just a year after having a baby.
The speedy mid-court player, who previously played for the Magpies, took the 2020 season off after giving birth to baby Georgie in March.
Ravaillion’s first stint with the Queensland Firebirds was from 2013-16 and, following the announcement, she said she was looking forward to wearing the purple dress again.
“It’s exciting to continue to chase my dreams as a professional netballer and I can’t wait to give back to the club that gave me so much,” she said.
“Most of all I’m looking forward to once again playing in front of the Purple Family who I share so many fond memories with, and who are without doubt the most passionate group of supporters in the league.”
The Diamonds player 60 times over and World Championship victor had little airtime when the deal was struck with the Firebirds, as football circles, and inevitably media, jumped on what that would mean for Treloar’s playing future at Collingwood with his family moving to Queensland.
Even Treloar expressed disappointment that the spotlight swung so quickly to him telling AFL 360: “The story should be about her and the way she’s been able to come back and get to where she’s got to, signing a contract to play her professional sport.
“She made a huge sacrifice for us as a family, to start our family in the middle of her prime career,” he said.
“We chose to have a child and she sacrificed her body for that and gave up so much time and so much love to the game.”
Whether she meant to be or not, Ravaillion is a role model for women showing they can have it all – a professional career, positive profile and a family.
Not even the contractual arrangements of a fellow professional athlete partner in Treloar stood in the way.
There’s no doubt Ravaillion has worked hard to ensure she’s back on the court in 2021 after taking just a year off, but it also demonstrates a mental and emotional strength to make that move with such confidence.
Collingwood could have done well to congratulate the star netballer before they started throwing barbs Treloar’s way and eventually sending him packing to the Western Bulldogs.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley told SEN radio that Treloar’s family situation was “a catalyst in some shape or form” for the club’s decision to consider trading the midfielder to another club.
Buckley said there was no way Treloar’s split from Collingwood could have been done “without trauma or pain”.
Just as the Firebirds are supporting the move for Ravaillion and little Georgie, as well as Treloar, Collingwood should have done the same for their own.
The AFL hubs created during the 2020 coronavirus AFL season is evidence of how clubs can still be successful when uprooted from their family or shifted as a family.
The Western Bulldogs voiced confidence that Treloar could play his best football despite the separation from his partner and baby.
THE STORY SHOULD BE ABOUT HER AND THE WAY SHE’S BEEN ABLE TO COME BACK … SIGNING A CONTRACT TO PLAY HER PROFESSIONAL SPORT
ADAM TRELOAR
They are aware that some elements of Treloar’s move would have to be managed and they’d need to support Treloar and Ravaillion, but it was “by no means a barrier or a major concern to bringing Adam, Kim and Georgie to our club”.
The best revenge is action. Here’s to Ravaillion and
Treloar having smashing seasons in 2021 while maintaining a content family unit.