NETBALL: Allora goalkeeper Laura Geitz will put her netball career on hold after announcing that she and husband Mark Gilbride are expecting their first child next March.

Geitz has been an outstanding captain of the Queensland Firebirds and Australian Diamonds but will be unavailable for selection for the upcoming Constellation Cup and will not play in the new national netball league next season.

She played her first netball at Allora State School before being identified as a player of the future while at The Scots PGC College.

Straight after school, she headed to Canberra to the AIS where she made her debut in the national league with the Canberra Darters and won bronze for Australia at under-21 level in world championships in Florida.　

In a statement from Netball Australia, coach Lisa Alexander said she was absolutely thrilled for Laura and Mark.

"Laura will always be part of our Diamonds family, and we look forward to welcoming the newest member of her family.”　

"On behalf of the Diamonds and support staff, we wish her all the best in this exciting phase of her life.”　

Geitz has won 26 of her 29 Tests as skipper and won gold at two world championships and one Commonwealth Games.

The odds are she could be back for the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast.

She has led the Queensland Firebirds to three ANZ Championship wins, one when she took over mid-season from an injured Lauren Nourse and two as the season captain.

She has sets records for successive wins as a captain.

Geitz has always said she loves getting back to Allora to see family and friends.

Allora Regional Sports Museum president Perry Cronin has started a push to have a bronze statue of Geitz in Allora, similar to one planned at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.