Surgery delays Ravaillion’s Firebirds start
The Queensland Firebirds will likely be without captain Kim Ravaillion for the early rounds of the Super Netball season, after the experienced midcourter underwent spinal surgery last month.
NSW shooter Ali Miller, 27, has been added to the squad as a temporary replacement player, following a pre-Christmas operation for an undisclosed issue that will likely sideline the 30-year-old Ravaillion for the Firebirds’ pre-season matches and a period beyond.
“Kim is already getting stuck into her rehab program and things are progressing well for her to be back on court early in the SSN season,’’ Firebirds coach Bec Bulley said. “Anyone who knows Kim is aware she’s the ultimate professional and I’ve no worries that she’ll tick every box in her recovery.
“With Donnell Wallam also on Diamonds duty in England, it made sense to elevate Ali and give us extra options with our shooters, with our other training partners giving us midcourt cover until Kim returns.’’
Wallam had revealed before leaving for Britain that she had been offered only a one-year contract to continue at the
Firebirds and would like go home to Western Australia.
The Ravaillion news is an unwelcome setback for the Firebirds, after a challenging year in which assistant coach Sara Francis-Bayman left just days before opening their first season under Bulley, who had signed a four-year deal.
They then lost their first five games before finishing with four wins and 10 losses – 1 per cent ahead of wooden-spooner Collingwood, which had confirmed in May it would be relinquishing its licence in 2024.
On the court, long-serving former captain Gabi Simpson failed to win a new contract and was eventually replaced by mature-aged training partner Hulita Veve, in a midcourt originally completed by Ravaillion, Lara Dunkley and Macy Gardner.