Sutherland Shire netball product Abbey McCulloch has announced her retirement from representative netball.
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The 29-year-old former NSW Swifts captain posted on social media on Monday to confirm the news.
McCulloch's future appeared uncertain in September when she announced she would take a year off from elite netball to rehabilitate a knee injury.
An MRI at the end of the 2018 season found additional damage behind McCulloch's tibia, requiring an extensive period of rest to fully recover.
Her priority had been to focus on her rehab with a view to returning to the Super Netball competition. She lined up for the Swifts' feeder team, the Netball NSW Waratahs, in the Australian Netball League this season.
The Waratahs went down 54-53 to Victorian Fury in the ANL grand final on Sunday, with McCulloch saying it would be her final representative game.
"I'm very proud to have played for the NSW Swifts and been given the honour of captaining such a historic club," McCulloch said.
"I grew up in NSW and dreamed of playing for the Swifts so to make that dream a reality is something I'll always cherish.
"I've had amazing teammates, coaches and staff who've helped me along the way and am ready to look on as a fan while I look to the future.
"It has been my absolute pleasure to wear the red dress."
NSW Swifts assistant coach Anita Keelan paid tribute to McCulloch.
"I would like to congratulate Abbey on an amazing netball career," Keelan said.
"Abbey is one of the few netballers to be in the elite club of having captained the Swifts and she should be very proud of that.
"I've had the pleasure of coaching her from underage level all the way to the top.
"She has always been determined, hard-working and provided great leadership to the Swifts when we had the greatest transition in our 20-year history when Super Netball came in.
"Everyone at the Swifts would like to wish Abbey the very best for the future and look forward to seeing what comes next for her."
One of the Swifts longest-serving players, McCulloch returned home to NSW and joined the club in 2014 after making her ANZ Championship debut with the Queensland Firebirds.
She was named captain of the Swifts in the Super Netball competition.
