Silver Fern Anna's Sad Goodbye

After a tearful exit, she’s super-excited.

- Kelly Bertrand

Netball legend Anna Harrison was always determined that when it came time to hang up her little black dress, it would be on her own terms.

Family, she says, has to come first – but Anna, 34, is quick to admit that some days are tougher than others with her gorgeous kids Isaac, three, and Georgia, two.

“Honestly, it’s one of those days where they’re just pushing all my buttons!” she laughs as she tries to wrangle the energetic duo in for a photo. “It’s a lot of ‘don’t do that, don’t touch that’ today!”

But Anna tells Woman’s Day that after 15 years and 88 test caps with the Silver Ferns, she’s decided to retire so that she can spend more time with husband Craig, 35, and their children.

“As I’m getting older, I’m thinking more about the future and what my priorities are,” she explains. “For me, it’s definitely these guys. Ever since I had the kids and I married Craig, he and I have often talked about the importance of family – it’s one of the things that holds us tight together.

“Now they’re a little older, they really notice when you’re gone. When they were babies, it was actually easier – which sounds pretty brutal!”

It was during the Ferns’ trip to England earlier this year that Anna started seriously thinking about retirement. While the kids struggled a little during her three weeks away, it was when she got back to two very unsettled children that she realised the long stints overseas weren’t working any more.