Emotional Adelaide Thunderbirds defender Renae Ingles joked she is still in denial about her top-level netball career coming to an end after Sunday's valiant 49-47 loss to Collingwood at Titanium Security Arena.
Ingles, 30, was misty-eyed following a stirring post-match presentation which included multiple tributes, a guard of honour and the presence of her 10-month-old twins Jacob and Milla, held by husband, NBA basketballer and triple Olympian Joe Ingles.
The star wing defence missed 2016 to focus on her pregnancy before making a comeback for the Thunderbirds' Round 6 clash with the Queensland Firebirds in April.
"My fairytale was being able to come back and play netball after twins," Ingles said.
"I love the game, I love the people, I love everything about what I've done for the last 10 years.
"I'm shattered.
"I'll miss so much about it and I'm still a bit in denial."
Ingles, a three-time premiership winner, World Cup champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, praised Adelaide's second-half fightback against the heavily-favoured Magpies.
The home side trailed by 11 points late in the second quarter before stealing the lead in the third and ultimately falling just short at the death.
"Win, loss or draw, that fight is what the T-birds are all about and that's what I'm proud of," Ingles said.
"We fought and fought against a team that's going into finals."
Adelaide coach Dan Ryan also praised the pluck on show, which hasn't always been the case during a difficult wooden spoon campaign.
"The fight was sensational," he said. "It was Thunderbirds trademark.
"Our mission was to represent the dress.
"We did that really well, particularly in the second half when, under all sorts of pressure, we produced some of our best netball we have all year.
"It's devastating not to get the win for Renae but we came so close.
"The atmosphere and the occasion was one we'll remember for a while."
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