Brooke Pryse to take a year off after winning Wodonga Raiders' best and fairest for a fourth time

Pryse, who's spent eight years with Raiders, also took out the top honour in 2016, 2017 and 2019 and she joins Jodie House and Karly Way as a four-time winner.

However, the 22-year-old is taking a year off.

"I've got one more year to go of my degree so that will be my main focus next year," Pryse said.

"I'm definitely not moving on, just stepping away.

"As a netballer, when that's all you've done since the age of nine, you always wonder how it would feel not to play netball but 2020 made me realise 'I can actually survive a year without netball.'

"I go to uni in Melbourne so with the travel, it's massive to commit to both things at once. I'm a team player so me being able to play on game day and not train doesn't sit right with me.

"It was a no-brainer for me to step away but the hardest thing will be leaving the under-17s. We have a buddy system so an A-grader is buddied with an under-17 and they definitely look up to you."

Raiders finished seventh this season, winning four of their 13 games.

It was a campaign which left Pryse with mixed feelings as she accepted the Vel Williams Perpetual Trophy.

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"As I've matured as a netballer, I've become more of a team player," Pryse said.

"I'm proud of being recognised but I'd much prefer to sit higher on the ladder at the end of the season than take away a B&F.

"We had many ups and downs throughout the season. It didn't always go our way but we've always been a young team at Raiders and the biggest thing we take away from this season is that we made friends, had fun and were able to play netball again.

"Progressing into seniors at a young age and developing into the captaincy of A-grade, it makes it really nice to see the young girls develop.

"The under-17s at Raiders have phenomenal talent and seeing a couple of the girls move up through into A-grade next year will be amazing.

"I really can't wait to see how they go."

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