Allora’s Laura Geitz is one of Australian netball’s greatest players and most respected leaders, achieving a decade of supremacy with the Queensland Firebirds and Australian Diamonds.

Representing the Queensland Firebirds in 169 games, Laura played a significant role as a dominant player and inspirational captain in three championship-winning seasons: in 2011, and back-to-back successes in 2015 and 2016.

Allora is proud of Laura Geitz

Laura’s dominant imprint in representing Australia in 71 games was arguably her greatest impact on and off the court. Geitz’s game-changing intercepts, calmness under pressure and resolute leadership saw her excel at the elite level.

She was a member of two Netball World Cup-winning teams in 2011 and 2015, the latter as the Diamonds captain in a home country triumph in Sydney. She led Australia to Commonwealth Games glory in Glasgow in 2014 and was part of silver medal-winning sides at the 2010 and 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Queensland Firebirds and Australian Diamonds defender faced more than her fair share of challenges before and during her decade at the top, yet she conquered each one to become one of netball’s most influential players and one of Australia’s most successful captains.

“Being inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame is such an honour, it’s a moment that allows me to reflect on the journey that brought me here. It reminds me of the people who supported me from the very beginning, my family, my coaches, my teammates, and the countless volunteers who helped create opportunities for me to play the sport I love.

It also reminds me of the responsibility that comes with it, to continue contributing to sport in Australia and to help inspire the next generation, especially young girls who might see themselves in my story.

Now that I can look back on my journey, I can safely say whilst the wins are a huge part of it, the connections and friendships, life lessons and the fun is what I hold closest. Being recognised in this way is deeply humbling, something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.

“For me, the key moments that defined my career weren’t necessarily the wins but the challenges along the way. Losing back-to-back grand finals with the Firebirds in 2013 and 2014 was incredibly tough, but I believe that without those two losses we wouldn’t have gone on to win the premierships in 2015 and 2016.

Those experiences taught me so much about resilience, about myself as an athlete, and about the value of perseverance. Another pivotal moment was my first game as captain of Australia, where I was actually benched. I think I was the first Australian captain to experience that, and it brought on a wave of self-doubt.

But looking back now, that moment shaped me profoundly. It taught me that the hard moments, while uncomfortable, are where the most growth happens, and they give you a much deeper appreciation for the successes when they do come. Those challenges made the wins even more meaningful.”

This article appeared in Allora Advertiser, 13 August 2025.