An ongoing knee issue has forced former Australian Diamond Madi Browne into an earlier-than-expected retirement.
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Browne, Collingwood's inaugural skipper and a current co-captain of the Magpies, will step away from elite level netball after a stellar international career and 15 domestic league seasons.
She had planned to retire at the end of the 2020 Super Netball season but another injury setback and a compacted schedule has fast-tracked her decision.
Browne reached netball's greatest heights despite a chronic right knee problem that required reconstructions in 2015 and 2019.
Scans this week revealed cartilage damage to the same knee which needed repair 16 months ago.
The 32-year-old midcourter played seven matches of the 2020 Super Netball season before reporting soreness following Collingwood's round-seven loss to the West Coast Fever.
In a decorated career, Browne earned 61 Test caps for the Diamonds and was the first two-time winner of domestic netball's highest individual honour, the Liz Ellis Diamond award.
She was also twice named netball's international player of the year.
Browne was also a key member of Australia's gold medal-winning team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
"I have pushed my body to its absolute limits to play the game I love," Browne said.
"Unfortunately, I have not had the fairytale ending to my final Super Netball season, but I wouldn't change my journey."
Collingwood coach Rob Wright said Browne departs as one of the all-time great midcourters
Browne's retirement comes as her younger sister Kelsey suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Magpies' loss to the Giants on Saturday.
Australian Associated Press
