MELBOURNE - Australian captain Liz Ellis got the fairytale finish she sought, announcing her retirement from netball at all levels today.
Ellis told a press conference in Melbourne today she wanted to end her career on a high and achieved that when she led Australia tothe world championship title in Auckland on Saturday night.
It was 34-year-old defender Ellis' third world title in a 122-test match career that spanned 15 years.
"I wanted a fairytale finish and I got it, that was enough for me," Ellis said.
She rated Saturday's 42-38 victory in the final against arch-rival New Zealand as one of the finest matches of her career, which started as an eight-year-old.
"It was one of the best I can remember playing.
"The last quarter was the most unbelievable I've played."
The goal-keeper revealed she made the decision to retire now in August, after her Sydney Swifts team won the national competition for a second successive season.
She said her aging body was "starting to fall apart".
Ellis said she had thoughts about calling it quits when she suffered a serious knee injury in November 2005, ruling her out of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games the following year.
"I thought about giving it away but I really wanted to leave on my own terms."
Australian coach Norma Plummer said the national team had plenty of depth but Ellis would be missed.
"She's the most dogged player I've ever had the opportunity to coach, she never gives in."
Ellis said she had no immediate plans apart from spending more time with her family and working on her golf game.
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