LAURA Geitz knew deep down she was done and dusted as an Australian Diamonds player when she walked off the court at the Commonwealth Games in April.

She woke up today happy and comfortable that her decision to retire from international netball was the right call after playing 71 Tests.

Geitz led Australia to victory at the 2015 World Cup in Sydney and guided the Diamonds to the gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, high points of a glorious decade in the green and gold.

The 30-year-old made her Diamonds debut in 2008 against England and went on to represent her country at three Commonwealth Games — Delhi (2010), Glasgow (2014) and the Gold Coast (2018).

She was also a part of the Australian side that won gold at the 2011 World Cup in Singapore.

After giving birth to her son Barney in 2017, Geitz made a stunning comeback to the international arena for this year’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast but the Diamonds were upset in the gold medal match by England.

Geitz confirmed her retirement from Test netball today at Ipswich, where she received a rock star reception at the Queensland State Age championships.

She was born just down the road from the Ipswich courts where her mother Juanita played her netball and was surrounded by young girls who idolise her as she confirmed the news.

“I’m at a very comfortable decision … I definitely have known for quite some time that I’ve been coming to the end of my career. When you wake up in the morning and you are excited about this announcement, you know that you’ve reached the right decision,’’ she said.

“Giving birth to our little boy Barney, I knew I wasn’t done with the game and there was this desire to represent Australia again at a Commonwealth Games and particularly at a home Commonwealth Games.

“I just knew I wasn’t done … but I just never had that same desire to go on past that moment. It was a decision that I kind of already made back in 2015 at the world championships in Sydney.

“I did know when I walked off the court (on the Gold Coast) that that was probably the last time that I would wear the green and gold.

“Whilst it wasn’t the result that we would have loved, playing in front of my family and my friends in my home state and having my little boy in the crowd was just very fitting for me and something I’ll treasure forever.’’

Geitz said it was impossible to pick out a single highlight after the making the journey from the being “the shy little country girl’’ to the top of the world with the Diamonds.

“Commonwealth Games golds and world championships and the opportunity to lead the Diamonds as captain of such an incredible group of girls, have all been just amazing highlights for me. It’s so hard to separate them,’’ Geitz said.

“I’ve been very lucky to have experienced the things that I have.

“It was a dream to just represent my state. For all these young girls that are out here today, it makes me quite emotional seeing them because I have had — and still do have — the same love for the game that I had all those years ago.’’

Geitz said she had reached no decision about how long she would play for the Queensland Firebirds in the Suncorp Super Netball competition. Clubs can talk to contracted players about renewing deals this month.

“I honestly haven’t reached a decision with the Firebirds just yet. Our sole focus is obviously on making that final four, which is going to be a huge challenge … to call it quits on everything would be particularly hard,’’ she said.

Diamonds head coach Lisa Alexander said Geitz had been an inspirational leader.

“Laura has been a champion for the Diamonds, the ultimate professional, always setting the benchmark for other players, so they knew exactly what was expected to play at this level,’’ Alexander said.

“Her Diamonds legacy will only grow stronger over the years and no doubt she will continue to have an impact on young players coming up through the ranks.

“Laura is a fantastic ambassador for netball and I personally thank her for the contribution she has made to Diamonds and netball in Australia.’’