It might have been the off season, but for new City West Falcons shooter Shimona Jok her first steps on the Altona netball courts were anything but easy.
Having been through the wringer with her Suncorp Super Netball team, the Collingwood Magpies, pulling the pin on the competition and then not being offered a contract for 2024, it’s been a tough few months for Jok, nee Nelson.
It tested her love for the sport which had seen her move from Jamaica to Australia to pursue.
“I don’t even think hard can describe how it has been and how it has been and how it is currently going,” she said.
‘Hard is probably the best word you can use right now. Depression, anxiety, just all the negative emotions… Not wanting to go outside, not wanting to see the world.
“It was a bit hard for me. I felt like I didn’t feel valued, no one wanted me. I felt like a nobody, I just felt like I wasn’t good enough for anyone.
“I wanted to stay away.”
Jok, who got married late last year, wanted to stay in Australia despite her uncertain netball future.
While she didn’t have a Super Netball contract, she did have an offer from Victorian Netball League club, the City West Falcons.
The Falcons, who had won last season’s championship title, had kept their three key shooters, but were more than happy to welcome Jok into the playing ranks with open arms.
“It has been really good,” Jok said of the Falcons. “I think everyone has been welcoming with big arms.
“I was a little bit nervous at first, but wasn’t too nervous cause I’ve always been around the Falcons…three or four years now.
“I think it’s easy. Personality wise who I am, quite relaxed. I love down to earth people, the environment and with the Falcons that is what I give.
“I felt at home in an instant. I know everyone and I’m joking around and being myself. I think it’s really important to adjust to everyone.
“They didn’t really make me feel weird, but they all loved me for who I am. I think that made it so easy to slip right in.”
Jok said one of the biggest things for her was feeling valued again and that she could play a role on court.
She said the Falcons wanted to have her as both a person and player.
“When I got there it was like it’s okay to make mistakes and I want to ensure that you’re okay,” she said.
“We see the Shimmy we know, I think that helped me get back into it.
“Since August I have struggled, struggled with who I am, I questioned what value I bring to a team,
“I questioned if I could even play the sport. No one recognised or even tried to reach out. I felt so belittled.I felt like a nobody.”
Falcons coach Marg Lind said earlier in the pre-season Jok, who has played internationally for Jamaica, had been really open with them and had shown courage with her netball career in limbo.
She knew that Jok would get the opportunity to play goal attack, a role she didn’t play at Super Netball level.
Jok said she was excited for the challenge.
“I can’t wait,” she said. “It gives me another range. I have a bit more freedom to move… a lot more to think about, a bit more time to run around, defend, create moves for everyone around you.
“I’ll take on feedback and be positive and have a really good environment. I think that really made me find the love for netball.”
With a strong goaling line up, it will be a battle for court time, but Jok said that was the least of her worries.
She sees the bigger picture.
“I feel like it’s more about what i can give, what i can learn, what we all can learn from each other,“ she said. “For me also team first, self last. It’s not an issue if I don’t get court time or not, always going to be a cheer girl whether on the court or off the court.
“Whatever the team needs, I’ll be there.”
While Jok doesn’t have a Super Netball contract, she has signed on as a training partner for new side, the Mavericks.
She said it was a role that she was still adjusting to.
“I’m now not really taking it to heart that I’m not good enough to be contracted,” she said. “I’m taking it one training (at a time) and learning what I can and turning in a new chapter.
“Do something different, be something different, work on something different instead of saying I’m still the same goal shooter.”
After the last few months, Jok said she was focusing on rebuilding herself and getting her love back for the game. Anything else isn’t in her thoughts.
“Taking baby steps,“ she said. “Try and regain that love for the sport and keep grinding and ticking those boxes where necessary.“
