Australian Diamonds and GWS Giants sharpshooter Susan Pettitt to retire
IN just 72 hours Australian netball has lost three of its four most experienced players with sharpshooter Susan Pettitt the latest Diamonds star to retire from international duties.
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IN just 72 hours Australian netball has lost three of its four most experienced players with sharpshooter Susan Pettitt the latest Diamonds star to retire from international duties.
The Giants shooter, the only NSW member of the Diamonds Commonwealth Games 12, says she has no regrets joining Laura Geitz and Madi Robinson in calling time on her international career.
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“I hadn’t said it out loud to anyone until today so it is only now sinking in,” Pettitt said. “It’s scary but happy and exciting.
“I have been so lucky to have the physical side of things but my head is tired.
“I know the time is right.”
The 34-year-old Pettitt, who revealed she had originally planned to retire in 2017 before the chance to go to another Games arose, will also end her Super Netball domestic career with the Giants at the end of the season.
The Australian retirement treble will spark a major changing of the guard when a new Diamonds squad is named next week.
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Captain Caitlin Bassett was the most capped player ahead of Geitz, Pettitt and Robinson at the recent Commonwealth Games and now, three months later, is the only one standing for selection.
Pettitt, also the most-capped player in Australian domestic netball with 227 games, came back from four years out of favour with selectors for her third Commonwealth Games appearance after making her Australian debut at the 2006 Games in Melbourne.
“I made a lot of Test caps early but then stopped getting selected,” she said.
“I hope I have left a legacy that shows perseverance and resilience will pay off. That you should never give up and say, ‘that’s it’.
“That’s the message I’d like to leave for young netballers. Don’t give up.”
Pettitt and the Giants head to Queensland this weekend to take on the Firebirds in round 11 of Super Netball.
The Sunday match will pit Pettitt against fellow Diamonds retiree Geitz.