But when the 31-year-old lines up for the milestone match in the Collingwood Magpies’ final regular season Suncorp Super Netball clash against the Queensland Firebirds, she will push any sentiment to the side.
Because this milestone is something Thwaites prefers to reflect on when her career is over.
This weekend, it is all about her retiring teammates Sharni Layton, Erin Bell and Shae Brown.
“When my career is finished I will think ‘wow, that was pretty awesome to do that’,” Thwaites said.
“But in the context of what is happening this week, there are three people finishing up amazing netball careers. For me, that is a bigger reason to get up for this week.”
Thwaites will have much to reflect on, including World Championship gold at Sydney 2015 and Commonwealth Games gold at Glasgow 2014. Her journey has not followed the traditional script with plenty of transition in the search for opportunities.
Thwaites has played for the Melbourne Kestrels, Melbourne Vixens, Central Pulse, NSW Swifts and now the Magpies in her long and decorated career, all with sheer determination to fulfil her childhood dream.
“At quite a young age I set myself on the path to get the top level and make the Australian team … not too many people get to do that and I am very grateful for the opportunities netball has (given) me,” she said.
“The path I have taken hasn’t necessarily been the one that others have taken, I have moved around a little bit to go and seek opportunities.
“But it has been a really good journey for me. There have been ups and downs, but that is all part of it. I have loved my time at all of the clubs.”
If Thwaites is reluctant to think about her milestone this week, she is even less likely to consider the ‘R’ word – retirement.
All around her players are hanging up their bibs, with Layton, Bell and Brown all departing the Magpies. On the international front, Laura Geitz, Susan Pettitt and Madi Robinson have all called time as well.
At 31, Thwaites believes she still has plenty of offer at both club and international level and is not contemplating retirement anytime soon.
“I think there have been enough of those for the time being,” she laughed.
“I am not 100 per cent sure what the future holds.
“When our season has finished I will flip over my Aussie hat for a bit, there will be lots of training for the Quad Series and Constellation Cup coming up.
“I have set myself for another international season, having made the squad this time around, and I would like to continue playing.
“As long as the body is holding together … I am not planning on hanging up (the bib) just yet.”
Thwaites’ milestone match will be played in Brisbane against the Queensland Firebirds. The Magpies are out of the finals reckoning, but they can still influence the makeup of the final four. Should the Firebirds lose and the Melbourne Vixens win against the Sunshine Coast Lightning, it could be curtains for the Queensland team’s season.
But playing spoiler is not on the agenda for the Magpies, Thwaites said.
“This week we have enough to play for ourselves, making sure we are sending out three absolutely stalwarts of the game with a really great performance,” she said.
“The pride we have created at the Magpies, we will put that on the court.”
And Thwaites’ tip for the 2018 premiership?
“If the Fever can weather a few storms, I reckon they definitely have the goods to do it,” she said.
“If they can keep a lid on the number of turnovers they are having, then absolutely they have got the goods.”
