Geelong’s Mikayla Bowen says head coach Dan Lowther went to extreme lengths to understand where the Cats went wrong last season

Geelong went to extreme lengths to dissect where they went wrong in a heartbreaking elimination final loss last season, new leader Mikayla Bowen says.

Geelong has gone to extreme lengths to dissect and understand where it went wrong at the end of last season, new leadership group member Mikayla Bowen says.

Pacy winger Bowen, 22, who was traded to the Cattery from the West Coast Eagles ahead of season seven, said coach Dan Lowther had made himself extremely familiar with the tape of the Cats’ two-point loss to North Melbourne in the elimination final last November.

The Cats kicked 1.8 and dominated the inside 50s, 40-18, but still lost — surely a catalyst for the club’s desire to improve its offensive potency in season eight.

“Dan spoke to the group and told us he’s watched that (game) over 100 times, as have we, in terms of dissecting what happened,” Bowen said.

Last year’s Hoops Award winner – presented to the player who best embodied the club’s values – said it was always “confronting” to watch her performances in post-match reviews.

“But it is part of the challenge of improving,” she said.

Mikayla Bowen looks for an option in a practice match against the Adelaide Crows on August 19. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

However, in a further string to her bow, Bowen has been included in the Cats’ leadership group for her second campaign at GMHBA Stadium.

“I’m very fortunate to be a part of the leadership group,” she said.

“When it comes to leadership, I think it’s something I try to do naturally.

“Whether I’m in the leadership group or not, nothing really changes for me.

“I just care so much about the team.”

It comes after the Cats enjoyed solid hit-outs in match simulations against Collingwood and Adelaide earlier this month, consisting of four 20-minutes quarters where the club was able to mix a standard practice match approach with experimentation.

While the Cats beat the Pies by 14 points but lost to the Crows by six, Bowen wasn’t bothered by the scoreline in either fixture.

“The result wasn’t the endgame,” she said.

Bowen prepares for a shot on goal against the Crows. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“I was personally sitting in the changerooms, I couldn’t have cared what the score was.”

Meanwhile, she said it was on the entire team – bolstered by Irish recruits Aishling Moloney and Anna-Rose Kennedy and returning ruck Erin Hoare – to lift the team’s scoring ability this season.

“I don’t think it’s just up to our forward half and forward line, it’s up to our midfield and how we deliver it,” she said.

“It’s across the board.”

More than a year after her move to Geelong last June, Bowen said it was a challenge to make the transition, but drew on her experience helping a personal friend move from Melbourne to Perth.

“She was really open with me about what she needed,” she said.

“From a moving perspective, that really opened my mind to preparing myself for what could come.

“I had never moved anywhere (before).

Mikayla Bowen says the Cats need to improve their offensive skills in 2023. Picture:

“It was tough (moving) but was made as easily as it possibly could.”

Bowen, an inclusion and diversity officer at the Cats, has been putting in big hours before round 1 on September 2, with Thursday night’s training not finishing until 10.30pm — it included a special session focusing on club culture.

“We had a bit of late one last night,” she said.

“It was more just to reconvene as a group and really try and reignite the passion that we have.

“Sometimes when it comes to what you stand for as a group in sporting teams, it can be glanced over at times.

“That was a really special session we had prior to training to make sure we’re connected as possible.

“Bring on round 1.”

Originally published as Geelong’s Mikayla Bowen says head coach Dan Lowther went to extreme lengths to understand where the Cats went wrong last season