(2nd Eagles player)
Swan Districts midfielder Mikayla Bowen played every game in West Coast's first three seasons after being one of the first players signed to the inaugural AFL Women's squad.
West Coast career[]
A diehard Eagles supporter, Bowen was selected in the 2018 All-Australian under-18 side and the AFL Women's Academy following a strong performance for WA. Having trained with West Coast's academy for some time, she was announced as an inaugural signing in January 2019 alongside Rosie Deegan. On being signed, Bowen was described as a contested ball beast.[1]
Despite that reputation, Bowen was used primarily off a wing in the club's inaugural AFLW season, finishing in the top ten of the Club Champion count. She improved on that strong first season in 2021, leading the club in disposals and earning a berth in the extended All-Australian squad, as well as finishing third in the best and fairest.
After a down season in 2022 as the Eagles won the wooden spoon, Bowen, who had played every game and finished tied for eighth in the best and fairest, requested a trade for new opportunities.
Geelong career[]
Bowen joined Geelong ahead of the 2022 Spring season, in exchange for a first-round pick. She departed as one of three players to have appeared in every West Coast AFLW game in the club's first three seasons, alongside Parris Laurie and Belinda Smith.
Stats[]
| Gm | G | B | K | M | H | D | Cl | T | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 5 | 28 | 62 | 9 | 31 | |
| 2021 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 84 | 35 | 65 | 149 | 12 | 26 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 83 | 24 | 43 | 126 | 12 | 58 | |
| Tot | 25 | 8 | 2 | 201 | 64 | 136 | 337 | 33 | 115 | |
| Avg | 0.3 | 8.0 | 2.6 | 5.4 | 13.5 | 1.3 | 4.6 |
References[]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikayla_Bowen
https://australianfootball.com/players/playerseason/mikayla%2Bbowen/20912
https://www.wafl.com.au/player/mikayla-bowen
- ↑ Rhys Dickinson, westcoasteagles.com.au (29 January 2019), "Bowen, Deegan set to fly with Eagles": http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2019-01-29/bowen-deegan-set-to-fly-with-eagles
| Inaugural West Coast Eagles AFLW Team AFLW Round 1 2020 - Collingwood 5.8.38 def West Coast 1.5.11 |
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B: Belinda Smith, Talia Radan |