In a tight count, Freemantle polled 33 votes to finish one ahead of goal shooter and 2021 season recruit Eliza Hynes.

Another of the Storm's recruits Makayle Dole and young gun Ava Hamilton tied for third on 28 votes, with Ellie Lothian only one vote behind.

The win gave Freemantle back-to-back A-grade award victories following her win in 2019.

"For me, the best thing was seeing our top four or five finish within a few votes of each other," she said.

"It was great to see that everyone had stepped up throughout the year and played some really great netball.

"A good even spread (of votegetters) was a good reflection on the team."

Freemantle, who has been reappointed for next season, insisted the vote count would have been even closer if not for an injury during the season to wing attack Caitlyn Hamilton.

More personally satisfying than her best and fairest win, a 45-37 win over Eaglehawk in the final round of the season to be played meant the Storm finished the home and away rounds in sixth position.

Had the BFNL been able to proceed with its intended top-six finals structure in early-September, the Storm would have played Gisborne (third) in an elimination final.

To that end, Freemantle is viewing 2021 as a great launching pad for the club.

"While we didn't know it at the time, that was a good way to end the season," she said.

"Most of the girls are hanging around next year, so we look forward to having a little rest and then regrouping again.

"I felt we were just starting to figure a few things out and were really starting to come together as a team towards the end.

"I want to carry that on and hopefully start next season off the way we finished this one."

In other netball best and fairest counts, Adele Barber was a runaway winner of the 17-and-under award on 55 votes. Matisse Nelson was runner-up on 32.

Elyse Morgan claimed the A-reserve award on 32 votes ahead of Ella Henry on 27.

Chelsea Crapper won B-grade and Alex Gilmore claimed the B-reserve best and fairest.

Crapper made it back-to-back best and fairest following her win in B-reserve in 2019.

Maggie Gilmore won the BSNA division one best and fairest.

Freemantle was full of praise for bottom-age player Barber's convincing win in the junior grade.

"She is a fantastic little player and we are looking forward to developing her," she said.

"She still has another year in the under-17s, which will be really good for her, but hopefully there will be opportunities for her to come up and play in A-grade as well."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: