Magic netball fans may have seen the last on-court performance of former Silver Ferns captain, Anna Stanley.
But as one Silver Fern fades away, another is on the verge of a comeback with Amigene Metcalfe poised to return to the Waikato/Bay of Plenty franchise for the inaugural ANZ Championship, starting in April.
Formally Rowberry, 32-year-old Stanley has signalled her intent to extend her family and - essentially - has retired from domestic netball after ending her international career in 2006.
"I'm not playing. I guess my priority has changed," Anna said. "I'm not going to announce I'm retiring.
"I'm commentating on Sky Sport for the ANZ Championship. I'm doing that and presenting the highlights show so I guess I'm moving away from my playing days."
After a run of patchy performances last season, Stanley struggled to regain the form which earned her the Silver Ferns captaincy for three consecutive seasons [2002-2004]. Stanley led the Silver Ferns to its 2003 world championship victory over Australia, but was sidelined for a year after suffering a knee injury. After extensive rehabilitation, Stanley returned to play for the Auckland Diamonds and was selected to play for New Zealand in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Manchester - a team which claimed gold. Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic coach Noeline Taurua confirmed she did approach Stanley to play, but was told of her unavailability. "She said if she decided to play, she would come back to Magic."
The 91-cap veteran has relocated from her Mount Maunganui base to Whangarei with her husband, former All Black Jeremy Stanley. The couple's first child, Jaya, was born 15 months ago.
The loss of Anna's vast international experience has been countered by the inclusion of fellow Magic mother, Amigene Metcalfe.
The 34-year-old midcourt specialist has downplayed any suggestion she was a tailor-made replacement for Stanley. After a year's hiatus from the game, Metcalfe told the Daily Post her return to top-flight netball was merely a case of good timing, rather than by design. Metcalfe has slotted straight back into the side taking a year out to give birth to now 10-month-old Ryan.
"It's good to be back. Things don't seem to have changed too much. I feel like I haven't been away, that's the good thing," Metcalfe said. The former New Zealand A captain and Silver Fern squad member has been named in the Magic side on the verge of entering semi-professionalism. "While the netball landscape has changed, Metcalfe doesn't feel the money has changed her view on the game.
"I don't think that it's [ANZ Championship contract payments] going to be enough to live off at this stage," Metcalfe said.
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