Shimona Jok – once the underdog – has climbed her way to become the Melbourne Mavericks inaugural club MVP, now preparing to celebrate a milestone: her 100th Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) game this weekend.
Jok’s journey hasn’t been easy, but it is a story of resilience, determination and hard work.
Jok’s start at the Melbourne Mavericks, began in the inaugural season as a Training Partner. The newfound 11th player rule gave Jok an opportunity. An opportunity she grasped onto, finding herself in the contracted 10 for the club’s second season after deservedly receiving the inaugural club MVP.
“In all honestly, I genuinely didn’t even know I was even considered to be MVP. I was just there doing my job, doing my role… I was stunned,” Jok said.
But the recognition didn’t come easily. Jok put in the work behind the scenes.
“It just goes to show what happens when you keep on the low, keep doing the right things, keep pushing - it is easier said than done.”
Her journey started long before the Mavericks. In 2018, Jok made the move to Australia, landing in Adelaide and turned her back on a US college basketball scholarship to advance in her netball career – a decision driven to support her family, especially her mum.
“I wasn’t really thinking about myself, I thought, ‘I’ll be fine’,” she said.
“There was an opportunity to help my mum, so if that meant go somewhere that’s completely new, that’s okay.”
After being offered the replacement position in 2018 for Cat Tuivaiti at the Adelaide Thunderbirds, Jok had her debut SSN season, in which she played most games in a winless season for the Thunderbirds.
A big testament to her transition to Adelaide was her host family and the support she had around her.
“Not one moment did I feel out of place and because of those relationships and those great people - I’ve loved being here and it has opened my eyes to something better.”
Following her breakout season, Jok headed east joining the Collingwood Magpies from 2019 to their falling out in 2023.
At the end of the 2023 season, Jok was put at a crossroads as she watched her teammates be offered contracts for other SSN clubs whilst she was sitting in silence.
“I was down in the gutters of giving up, there were moments where I felt like I added no value to this League and was easily looked past,” she said.
It was the people around her that helped her get out of the gutter.
“Mark, Richo, Kate and the entire [City West] Falcons [VNL club] group really helped me to get back into the perspective that it’s not over. I mean it’s only a moment to step back alone, reassess and go again,” said Jok
And that’s exactly what Jok did, utilising this time to make her game stronger.
“Let’s work on this, let’s make this better, let’s make something different than the normal post up shooters.”
Her persistence paid off; another opportunity arose for Jok.
She was offered a Training Partner with the Melbourne Mavericks for their inaugural season, and after a standout pre-season – and due to an unfortunate injury within the team – it was Jok’s moment to take on and fill the void that was left.
“The step back was for a greater process, so I think that’s how, once I got the opportunity, I grabbed it with both hands,” said Jok, regarding her first game with the Mavs.
Jok came out running – playing a dominant GS position – she made it clear she was, what we call a maverick!
Jok’s game extends further than SSN, she made her international debut for Jamaica in 2017 and has since earned six caps. She represented the Sunshine Girls at both the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town.
When asked on how she feels when running in the Jamaican dress, Jok reflected.
“The last time I wore it was definitely for my mum and my dad – it was the first time they’d ever watched me live, and they were star struck.”
She recalled a moment she will never forget:
“My dad and my uncle were walking around, telling everyone, ‘That’s my daughter, that’s my niece’.”
Jok’s parents were the driving force behind her netball journey and having them in the stand, seeing them proud.
“That’s worth treasuring more than anything else,” said Jok.
Jok’s story is a story of resilience. Through her journey of netball and through working as an ICU nurse, Jok now has a greater perspective.
“It’s not just about netball anymore. It’s about the people who play, the human beings, how you treat people. That gives me a lot more drive than anything else.”
Congratulations to Shimona Jok on 100 SSN games; an inspiring maverick to all.
