Geelong Cats: AFLW star Mikayla Bowen on first season at Geelong and her mental health passion

Mikayla Bowen lost two friends to suicide when she was younger, giving her a sense of perspective that belies her age. She opens up on her mental health passion and her first year as a Cat.

Mikayla Bowen opens up on her mental health passion. Picture: Alan Barber

Mikayla Bowen isn’t your average youngster.

While many her age were celebrating 21st birthday parties and completing university assignments, Bowen, then an Eagle, decided to pack her bags midway through 2022 and make the 2672km move from Perth to Geelong.

A trade across the Nullabor is more common in the AFL, but it’s a much more unusual and daunting proposition for part-time footballers in the AFLW – especially for one just 21 years of age at the time.

The move speaks to Bowen’s maturity as a person, part of which was forced onto her by tragedy.

Bowen lost two of her friends to suicide when she was younger, giving her a sense of perspective that belies her age of 22.

It has helped shape her as a person. While she doesn’t suffer from mental health issues herself, she implements techniques into her preparation to ensure she is at the top of her game and can support others.

She has become a staunch mental health advocate herself, most recently spending a month with Lifeline as an ambassador for the Push-Up Challenge.

Mikayla Bowen was an ambassador for the Push-Up Challenge. Picture: Mike Dugdale

“I developed my own passion for it when I got to the realisation of how common and how real it is. I obviously have mentors and role models that you just don’t think go through and experience these things,” Bowen said.

“I think for any girl or young boy decides who looks towards the AFLW/AFL I would never want them to feel like they’re alone going through that.

“I think speaking from a personal experience as well I had a fair few younger years that have shaped the way I look at things now and from a friendship perspective I lost a couple of friends when I was younger to mental health issues which, again, I think has broadened my passion for it and my drive to support everyone around me, because it is so common and I don’t think it gets spoken about enough.

“With that in mind mental health is a massive component and I’m really interested in finding your peak mentality as an athlete, I think it is a combination of the two that go hand-in-hand.

“I prioritise my mental health so that I can push it onto others and be there to support when needed or be that support that I felt that I needed when I was in those places.”

Geelong AFLW recruit Mikayla Bowen. Picture: Geelong Cats

Mikayla Bowen in action for the Eagles. Picture: Getty Images

TRADE MOVE

Eager to unlock the best version of herself and step outside her comfort zone, Bowen assessed her options at the end of season six of the AFLW season.

While a number of clubs came knocking, it was Geelong who stood out amongst the pack.

She said that Geelong instantly felt like home – despite being much, much colder.

And she looked right at home on the wing, ranking fourth at the club for disposals, fourth for intercepts and sixth for metres gained in her first season in Cats colours, with their gamestyle and emphasis on outside run allowing her to shine.

“I got the opportunity to fly over here and meet the girls, meet Dan (Lowther) the coach and it almost instantaneously felt like home over here even though it was 10 degrees colder, but that’s OK,” she laughed.

“I think it was really what was best for me in terms of career change and what I really saw for myself going forward and I wanted to tap in and unlock the best version of myself at a place that I thought I could do that and Geelong was a no-brainer over the off-season and the trade period,” Bowen said.

“I had conversations with them really early and other conversations with clubs post that and I think the fact that I couldn’t stop thinking about Geelong and the way they make me feel really stood out to me in that process.”

Bowen had a strong season on the outside for the Cats. Picture: Getty Images

The outside midfielder’s two-year deal finishes up at the end of this season, and she is keen to stay in Geelong long term.

“I think if it was my decision I would absolutely love to stay here long-term and that I guess was my mindset moving over here,” Bowen said.

“I really wanted to do everything I could to cement myself in the footy club and amongst the group as I’m not just over here for a short time, I want to be able to invest in the group and grow with the group that is already evolving.”

OUTSIDE FOOTY

It should come as little surprise that ‘outside footy’ is Bowen’s strength on and off the field.

Bowen is working part-time a the club part time in the inclusion and diversity space, is studying PE teaching – which has been put on hold due to football commitments – and has even completed an automotive certificate.

“Have been very fortunate to be offered a working opportunity at the club the inclusion and diversity space and working at the club part time at the moment,” she said.

“And I also just completed a cert two in automotive which is really random so yeah fair range of things and amongst that I think footy is my main priority but obviously keeping in mind I’m trying to set myself up for post footy as well where possible.”

Originally published as Geelong Cats: AFLW star Mikayla Bowen on first season at Geelong and her mental health passion