Susan Pettitt will hang up her hat at the end of the 2018 Suncorp Super Netball season, retiring from both domestic and international netball.
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The GIANTS Netball and Australian Diamonds shooter, who has played 71 elite games at the international level and 226 at the domestic level, is one of the most experienced players in the league and currently sits at the top of the domestic ladder as the most capped current player in Suncorp Super Netball.
After a national league debut in 2002 with the Sydney Sandpipers, Pettitt has played 17 seasons on the national stage as well as representing Australia in three Commonwealth Games and at the 2007 World Championships.
“I'm so blessed to be able to do all those things and to travel the world and meet some amazing people and teammates who are lifelong friends now,” Pettitt said.
“I would never have dreamed that back in 2002 when I made my debut that I would be at this point and talking about this. I'm over the moon to be part of so many games and very lucky not to have any time out of the game.
“I'm looking forward to the next four rounds leading to the finals and hopefully making it a few more games to add to the tally,” she says.
Giants Netball head coach Julie Fitzgerald has nothing but praise for the departing star. “I have known Susan for many years now and it has always been a joy to work with her. The passion and dedication that she brings to each and every moment is something that makes her such a pleasure to coach.
“Being able to watch her develop over the years has truly been one of the highlights of my career. As a player who forged her netball career at a small Association on the Sapphire Coast and then went on to become an elite professional athlete and represent her country on the global stage, Susan is an inspiration for all up-and-coming regional athletes.”
Pettitt said she felt lucky to have been able to represent Australia on the netball court.
“It's kind of hard to put into words. I think that anyone who has represented Australia in their chosen sport, hearing your national anthem is the most special moment where all those hard hours in the gym and on the court have all been worth it ... not many people get to do so you've got to cherish it. It means everything.”
She said it was also a proud moment to regain a national spot after “a very challenging four years” of being left off the Diamonds roster.
“For me to fight my way back into the Diamonds and to play a Commonwealth Games at home – and my third Commonwealth Games – is extremely special and I think that was probably my moment where I went ‘it can't get much better than this and I'm going to call it at the end of 2018’.
“This year has been an absolute fairy tale ... It was perfect timing,” she says. “I just knew that I was ready to go on to the next chapter.”