GIANT Chelsea Pitman has hung up her dress after calling time on her decorated, almost 20 year-career.
Debuting for the Sydney Swifts back in 2006 as a bright-eyed teenager, Pitman has lived out one of the most unique and opportunistic netball careers.
Representing nine different clubs, across three different countries – as well as a national representative of both the Australian Diamonds and the English Roses - the 35-year-old had anything but a typical career.
Having represented the Swifts, Canterbury Tactix, Queensland Firebirds, West Coast Fever, Manchester Thunder, Central Pulse, Adelaide Thunderbirds and London Pulse, Pitman joined the GIANTS as a temporary replacement player for Maddie Hay ahead of the 2024 Suncorp Super Netball season.
Following a seven-game career as a GIANT– inclusive of a 2022 COVID debut – Pitman has made the decision to retire from the elite competition.
After retiring from international duties last year following a career featuring World Cup and Commonwealth Games glory, Pitman says the timing is now right to retire from the domestic level also and end her playing days an elite level netballer.
“With how much I love the game and just love playing, I never wanted to retire, but it is the right time and the right time for me,” the Sydney-born Pitman said.
“It’s made me reflect on the achievements I’ve had and the friendships I’ve made and how much moving I’ve done. I’m pretty lucky with the career I’ve had as a netballer and I take a lot of pride in that.
“I’m emotional but I’m ok,” the former Randwick junior added about the decision.
“Winning a World Championship, winning a ‘comms game’ gold, a silver and bronze at the World Cup - those achievements are something I’m extremely proud of. They weren’t easy and definitely helped shape me into the netballer I am on and off the court.
“It’s been the best to be able to play international netball as well domestic netball, and to call this my job is special, very special.”
“I’ve played for a lot of teams and played with a lot of great players and played underneath some amazing coaches so it’s pretty cool.”
Driven by an eagerness to take on new challenges, Pitman wants to be remembered as someone who always followed her heart and wasn’t afraid to take a leap of faith.
“It’s about taking every opportunity,” the 35-year-old said.
“I think the legacy I want to leave is ‘don’t let fear dictate your decision.
“Sometimes change is forced upon you or sometimes you have to seek it yourself knowing you need to push yourself and challenge yourself and that was a bit of my career.
“When I reflect on it and if I’d change things, I wouldn’t because then I might not have had the achievements and success or met the people that have become lifelong friends.
“If you feel it in the pit of your stomach, or there’s an awareness that something isn’t right for you, then make the change. Sometimes you’re going to make the wrong decisions along the way but it’s about facing it and being ok with it.”
Despite her brief time with the club in the context of her 19-year pro career, Pitman says she’s thoroughly enjoyed her time in the orange and charcoal dress.
“I have loved calling myself a GIANT,” she said.
“The setup here [training and playing facilities], the girls, the coaching staff, the support staff, the culture, it’s amazing.
“In an ideal world I would have liked to win every game but that’s sport and sport is unfair and I’ve enjoyed it. I want to stick around [and play] but I’ll be in the grandstand watching with maybe a wine and watching them get all sweaty,” she laughed.
In a full-circle ending to her career, Pitman’s immediate retirement means her final game not only came against the side her career started with almost 20 years ago- the Swifts – but also under the coach of that team - current GIANTS coach Julie Fitzgerald who led Pitman and the Swifts to an undefeated title win in what was called the Commonwealth Bank Trophy at the time.
“I still remember that ‘Jules’ [Fitzgerald] and I would have met when I was 13 in the NSWIS program,” Pitman recalled fondly.
“Then I remember her calling me one lunch time when I was in high school and she said ‘Hi Chels, would you like to be a Swift’ and offered me a contract.
“That was one of the most amazing moments of my life and the start of what has been a great career for me and now to end it here under ‘Jules’ I think is sort of meant to be.
“I knew my last game was against the Swifts and there was a lot of emotions and I pride myself on being able to control them and I definitely know that at times I didn’t. To play against the Swifts in Sydney underneath Jules - you couldn’t have written the script any better.”
While she revealed her next stage of life will likely involve a move into coaching and/or a return to the police force in which she spent time during COVID, Pitman says that’ll come after some much needed down time.
“At the moment I’m just going to enjoy being retired and enjoy fine food and wining and dining and then go on a holiday,” she said.
“Then it’ll be looking at coaching opportunities and how I can stay within the environment of netball and how that looks for me and then definitely [returning to] policing.
“But the short-term plan is just to have a bit of fun.”
Among her long list of achievements, Pitman ends her career with a 2011 World Cup win with Australia as well as silver and bronze World Cup medals with England. She was also part of the side that claimed a historic gold medal for England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games after a last-gasp victory over Australia on the Gold Coast, as well as a premiership player at the Sydney Swifts in 2006 and 2007 as well as the Queensland Firebirds in 2011.
Join us this Sunday at Ken Rosewall Arena as we celebrate and thank Chelsea for her contributions to the game.
