AFLW 2023: Geelong midfielder Mikayla Bowen reflects on ‘gut-wrenching’ finals exit and hopes for 2023

Geelong’s finals exit last season was ‘gut-wrenching’. But one of the club’s stars has high hopes for this season after learning the hard way.

Geelong has learnt harsh lessons from its “gut-wrenching” AFLW elimination final exit, with star midfielder Mikayla Bowen believing the club can surge deeper into finals and challenge for silverware in season eight.

Bowen conceded she and coach Daniel Lowther have watched that heartbreaking loss, where the Cats managed an inaccurate 1.8, “too many times” but says she is grateful now for the tough learning experience.

Geelong rose from 12th in season six to fifth last season in a rapid turnaround for the club in Bowen’s first campaign for the Cats after crossing from West Coast in the trade period.

She admits the Cats’ forward delivery and efficiency cost them games last year, not just the elimination final, and improving these important facets has been their key focus this pre-season.

Georgie Prespakis after the brutal loss to North Melbourne. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“There’s definitely a residing feeling off the back of a loss like that, especially when we had such an incredible rise throughout the season,” Bowen said.

“I don’t know if burn is the right way to put it, more it fuels the kind of fire that has already been there I guess. I think because deep down we know that was a game we could have capitalised on.

“I’m sure all of us have watched that more so than any other game throughout last season, we’ve definitely learnt a lot from it and it has definitely impacted the way we train going forward.

“I think being the last game of the season there was a priority on letting the players be as well, but I know I’ve spoken to Dan Lowther our coach about his reflections on the game and he’s made it pretty clear he, amongst all of us, has watched it one too many times.

“To end the season like that is not ideal and gut-wrenching at the time but I’m grateful for it now and I think the group are going forward.

“I don’t think it’s too far ahead to push further into finals or even push towards silverware. At the end of the day I’m a huge believer that if we aim for the stars we can end up in the sky. We’ve got to aim as high as we possibly can and if we reach that point, amazing, but if we aim lower we won’t be reaching our full potential.”

Bowen lauded “energiser” trade recruit Kate Surman — who the Cats picked up from Port Adelaide in the off-season — and emerging Cats Nina Morrison and Jackie Parry as players who can help the Cats take the next step this year.

The trio have been standouts at training over the past month.

Bowen is excited to see Surman — nicknamed ‘Spud’ — in action, saying the forward has added plenty to the Cats on and off the field.

Kate Surman in action for the Power last season. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“(Surman) is a massive energiser for us and again in the forward line it is really exciting to get some speed, some agility and some goal craft from Kate’s behalf so the more we can deliver to the forwards as mentioned and get it onto the ground for Kate, the better,” Bowen said.

“It’s hard to look past one who has been a frontrunner since being at the Cats and that’s Nina Morrison. She looks like she’s at her peak.

“Another one who has potentially gone under the radar from last season is Jackie Parry. Just the way she has gone about her training this season has been incredible and I keep looking at our data, our GPS data, and I couldn’t believe she was topping the charts for our speed.

“I think her potential going forward is massive for us and I think as soon as we can allow Jackie to have her peak confidence going forward that’s how we’ll get the best out of her.”

Bowen features in episode two of Geelong’s AFLW season seven documentary, which airs on Wednesday night, where the winger discusses her move from the Eagles and showcases her first day at the club.

She said it will help inspire the Cats to strive for higher honours in 2023.

“I think a massive message from (the Cats media team) was that he hoped, and I think he’s timed it, so we can use this as memory and as fuel towards going to season eight,”

“It’s really special and the first episode definitely got some emotion coming up.”

Originally published as AFLW 2023: Geelong midfielder Mikayla Bowen reflects on ‘gut-wrenching’ finals exit and hopes for 2023