Baker is the last of a rare breed to retire - skilful, fiercely competitive on the court, genuine, fine citizen off it.

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The Camperdown star was as determined, or pig-headed as anyone, when it came to pushing her physical limits but she was more than just a player.

She was a coach, mentor, leader, volunteer, ambassador. She has inspired many players not only as netballers but people.

Hampden league netball has been blessed to have people like Baker.

Baker's contemporaries, cast from a similar mould, including Koroit's Kate Dobson, Jacqui Bowman, Kate Foster, Stacey O'Sullivan, South Warrnambool's Leah Kermeen, Port Fairy's Nicole Dwyer, Terang Mortlake/South Warrnambool's Josie Ellerton (who still plays for Warrnambool and District league club Panmure), Terang Mortlake's Megan Titmus, Portland's Kerri Jennings and North Warrnambool Eagles' Angela Jellie, to name a few, are also now retired from the top-grade.

History will look back on them as the generation that elevated netball to a new level.

Will we ever see a crop of people, not just players, like these in a golden era again? Their fitness, skills, tactics were unprecedented.

Their passion for the sport, teammates and competitive hunger, may never be matched, so too their longevity.

The challenge for clubs is to nurture more players like this crop - those who infect everyone else with pride and a sense of responsibility to others and the game.

They will be there at every club. Some might already be emerging.

But it might just be they need some encouragement from the greats, who may be retired, but definitely not forgotten and still needed.