West Adelaide’s Anna Pritchard wins Shirley Brown Medal for WNPL Player of the Year
West Adelaide’s Anna Pritchard has cemented herself among SA’s best local soccer players, winning this year’s Shirley Brown Medal.
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Most times jealousy is a curse.
But being green with envy of her older brother has helped Anna Pritchard cement herself among the best in SA soccer.
Pritchard spent time watching from the sidelines as her brother Marcus played club soccer – and she was part of many one-on-one backyard battles with him before taking up the sport herself.
Now the West Adelaide midfielder is the best in the SA Women’s National Premier League after claiming the Shirley Brown Medal for the competition’s player of the year.
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Pritchard claimed the top-tier women’s highest individual honour at Football Federation SA’s awards night this month.
“My brother is only 16 months older than me so when I was five I got jealous watching him play,” Pritchard, 25, says.
“So it started with the classic sibling rivalry and I started playing and have been doing so since I was five.
“I played in lots of boys teams when I was younger and he (Marcus) was part of them as well.
“We used to go for a kick together and it helps having someone to play with.
“He was always pretty supportive of me as well – he comes to all my games now.”
Pritchard switched from Cumberland United to Hellas halfway through the 2018 season, seeking a fresh start and better opportunities with a stronger club.
She played 19 out of a possible 21 games this past campaign, including Hellas’s heartbreaking extra-time loss in the grand final and its cup final defeat, both to Adelaide City.
Pritchard had put West in front during the WNPL grand final against the Black and Whites before Isabel Hodgson equalised.
She is proud to be rewarded for a strong individual season but also shocked to have claimed the medal.
“Lots of other girls had great years as well, so it could’ve gone many ways,” Pritchard, of Aldgate, says.
“I was with Cumberland for eight years but I wanted to be challenged and improve.
“It was pretty tough at first but the girls are an awesome bunch so that made it easier.
“Making finals at my first full year at a club was also pretty special.”
Pritchard will remain with Hellas next season and is keen to “keep working hard and see what happens”.