The Brothers playmaker has been one of the leading forces in the history of competition but was able to swoop on a rare piece of individual recognition by taking out the best and fairest award this season.

Dunn held off Temora's Courtney McCrone and Kangaroos veteran Shannon Pike by four votes to take out this year's best and fairest award.

She was definitely surprised to come away with the top nod but it was a highlight in what was a disappointing finish to the season.

"It would have been nicer to finish the season and try to come home with a trophy with the girls but it is always nice to win an award like that."

"You don't play it for those awards but of course it is nice," Dunn said.

Dunn took on a new role as the non-playing coach of Brothers last season ahead of the birth of daughter Peyton last October.

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Her return to playing has been a juggling act, but the 28-year has enjoyed being part of the growing contingent of mothers in the Brothers outfit.

"I was pretty lucky that I bounced back reasonably well but it is more about trying to find the time to get back into doing things," she said.

"I didn't find it hard to come back and if anything it was more enjoyable to come back after having the year off.

"It made me want to come back more and I probably enjoyed this season and appreciated it a lot more than others."

In fact the three highest vote getters are all mothers.

McCrone, the wife of Dragons coach Josh, is a mother of three and impressed in her first season in the sport as she shared second place with Pike, who has two children.

It was a twist in an award that has been dominated by younger talent.

"It is crazy how it works like that," Dunn said.

"Speaking for myself here but winning something like that when you're probably not at your best is pretty nice after coming back from having a baby."

After missing out on a grand final appearance for the first time in a decade, Dunn helped Brothers to sit unbeaten on top of the ladder before the competition came to a halt.

It was one of the most frustrating aspects to not being able to complete the season.

"We were shattered as during lockdown the girls were working really hard," Dunn said. "We were trying to keep each other motivated and everyone was putting in the effort individually.

"Some were doing two gym sessions and some sort of a run or ball skills a day just because there was nothing else to do.

"The motivation was really there, the girls were really keen and when it got announced (that the season was over) we were all really shattered."

Meanwhile Travis Smith held on for a narrow win in the Burmeister Shield grade count on Friday.

The Southcity captain-coach held off teammate Simon Parr and Young's Sam Norton to win by one vote.