Layton geared up for emotional farewell | Innovation Tech
FORMER Australian Diamonds star Sharni Layton says she is expecting a few tears on Sunday as she prepares for the final home game of her Super Netball career.
Layton, 30, announced earlier this month that she would retire from professional netball at season’s end and will have her final chance to farewell an army of Melbourne fans when her Collingwood Magpies meet Giants at Hisense Arena on Sunday.
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“This is where it all started back in 2004 for me so it’s really nostalgic,” Layton said.
“I’ve got a lot of friends and family and people coming along that have been there from the very start, so that means a lot to me.
“I’ve been really reflective over the last couple of days and I just can’t wait to get out there with the girls that I’ve been going out with in the black and white the last couple of years.
“I think this weekend I probably will allow a few of those tears to flow but I’m hoping I can at least hold them in until the end of the game.”
While the Magpies — who sit seventh on the ladder — were ruled out of finals contention weeks ago, Layton said the side was determined to restore some pride and finish on a positive note in the final two rounds.
“The hardest thing is knowing that you’re better than the performances you’re putting out there but that’s sport at the end of the day,” she said.
“We definitely want to put out there the netball that we know that we can and we want the work rate and the effort and the smarts to be out there with that as well and really thank the crowd for getting behind us.”
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