It’s hard to imagine improvement in a four-time Fairest and Best winner, but Kiara Bowers has plenty planned ahead of next year’s AFLW season.
Bowers celebrated Fremantle’s top award last Friday night and is the Club’s sole representative in the preliminary All Australian squad for Season 7.
The midfield dynamo said her body felt great and was ready to go to another level with a long break between seasons.
“At the moment I’m in the best nick I’ve ever been,” Bowers told SEN WA Mornings with Mark Duffield.
“I’m keen to have a really big off-season, hopefully get as fit as I’ve ever been.
“Maybe put on a bit of weight so I can break some tackles as well – that’s what I’ve told S&C (strength and conditioning) I want to do.”
The 30-year-old is contracted for season 2023 and optimistic about Fremantle’s chances of improving on 12th spot with some young talent fast-tracked in an injury-riddled season.
“Our improvement will definitely start with our young girls who got a lot of games this season,” Bowers said.
Bowers also praised recruits Orlagh Lally and Megan Kauffman who joined Freo from the vastly different backgrounds of Gaelic Football and Wembley Amateurs, respectively.
At just 21 years of age, Lally claimed the Club’s Best First Year Player Award before flying back to Ireland on the weekend.
“She's probably one of the fittest girls at the Club, and the strongest,” Bowers said.
“She had a ball in her hand every time I saw her and that’s not just at the Club. She flew back home and took a bunch of balls with her – all she needs to practice is her skills and she’ll be back tenfold next season.”
Bowers will soon head to Bali with teammates for a much-needed break before embarking on another pre-season.
It’s hard to imagine an AFLW player more in need of a holiday with Bowers’ alarm going off at 4.30am weekdays so she can leave home at 5am to commence work as a qualified carpenter, in charge of her own team.
On many days she heads straight from work to Cockburn for 5.30pm training and doesn’t arrive home until 10pm following meetings and team dinners.
“On a training night I don’t really see the family, I’m out all day,” said Bowers, who is mum to two-year-old son Nate with her partner Adele.
“I’m still grateful, and also grateful for the days I do have off as well to see them.
“I don’t mind the juggling - if I didn’t have a job I’d probably be bored throughout the day.”
