Kiara Bowers might already be one of the best players Fremantle have ever produced.
Bowers is quickly establishing herself as one of the club’s most important and greatest players.
Take into account the modern-day heroism of Nat Fyfe and Matthew Pavlich, the historical legacy left by the likes of George Doig (East Fremantle) and Bernie Naylor (South Fremantle), and the universal love and admiration for Maurice Rioli.
While the AFLW is still in its formative stages, as are the Fremantle Dockers as a club, Kiara Bowers is creating her own legacy after just ten senior matches, much like these players did during their playing careers.
Deprived of two years’ worth of her career due to injury, Bowers debuted in 2019 and immediately became the inspirational, carry-the-team-on-her-back type of player that is truly admired across competitions all over the world.
Signed as a marquee player, the expectation was that Bowers would be one of the league’s top players, but the injuries meant she flew under the radar until she made her presence felt during her debut season.
Bowers ranked first in tackles and pressure points, while rated top ten in contested possessions, clearances, metres gained and score involvements.
Fremantle had an excellent season and while many of the plaudits went to Eagles recruit Dana Hooker, Bowers finished just two places behind her in the league’s MVP count come season’s end.
The impact of the 17 disposals and 11 tackles she averaged in 2019 somehow pales in comparison to the way Bowers has started season 2020, when Fremantle are expected to be a serious contender thanks to fixturing quirks and home games.
Against Geelong in Round 1, Bowers was a class above, finishing with 22 disposals (20 kicks), 14 tackles, seven clearances and eight inside 50s.
(Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
In the first ever AFLW Derby in the second round of the season, Bowers had 13 disposals, 18 tackles and four clearances to win the Derby medal.
Clearly the 28-year-old is a tackling machine, but her all-round game is arguably the best we have seen in AFLW history, without demanding any headlines or attention.
Her defensive accountability cannot be overstated, with her pressure game so in-tune with the current landscape of the league that she naturally shuts down the opposition’s best players with sheer hunger alone.
Bowers’ kick-to-handball ratio is astonishing for an inside player, having averaged 14.5 kicks and 2.6 handballs in 2019, and beginning the opening stanza of 2020 with 30 kicks and five handballs.
Kicking efficiency is difficult to judge for inside midfielders, particularly in the AFLW where there is a higher chance of effective kicking given the naturally congested areas in which the ball tends to go to, and Bowers is an above average distributor of the ball.
Perhaps it’s the simplicity in Bowers’ tactical approach to the game that should inspire a generation of footballers.
Of course there is nuance in the way she plays, and studying tape to understand running patterns and Bowers’ instinctive positioning in stoppages can be valuable.
But in its purest sense, the best way to approach the game is to attack the ball and get it forward.
When Bowers doesn’t have the ball, she hunts her prey until it’s in her possession, before launching forward to give Fremantle the best opportunity to score.
She makes an increasingly tactical, over-regulated and congested game look easy, which should set the tone for hundreds of professional footballers all over the country.
The Dockers are off to a flyer in 2020 and won’t be stopping anytime soon. They are almost locked in for a top two spot in Conference B, largely thanks to their star midfielder, who should be the favourite for the league’s MVP.
The significance of a player like Bowers to footballing history simply cannot be overstated. In 50 years when AFLW historians refer to certain awards and statistics, there is little doubt that her name will be mentioned on a consistent basis.
A bright future awaits the purple army as it continues to grow, and the modern-day legacy of Kiara Bowers will have her as a Fremantle Football Club legend sooner rather than later.
Victor
Guest
Well there are plenty of Dud's in the Men's game and commentators calling first year players superstars after a few games. They are right calling her a future great going on what I've seen. But potential unfulfilled is a common occurrence.
Macca
Roar Rookie
"quibbling over what constitutes an AFLW “club great” is nit-picking." Not at all, if you start throwing everyone in as being a "club great" the term loses its meaning. Bruce Doull with 356 games, 4 best & fairests, 4 premierships, a Norm Smith Medal, All Australian and AFL and Carlton team of the Century representation is a club great, Kiara Bowers with just 1 1/4 seasons under her belt is an excellent player.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Why is it problematic? They're playing exactly the same game. The only difference is the size of the ball.
Downsey
Roar Pro
Concern regarding the speed of the competition's expansion is reasonable, quibbling over what constitutes an AFLW "club great" is nit-picking. It's called GenW for a reason. The supporter base will grow from the ground up without pity votes from indifferent casual observers who you believe take media hype as gospel. Just as the girls are creating their own version of the game, they're also creating their own version of 'club greats', and Bowers fits the working definition.
Marty
Roar Rookie
Who said she was underdelivering? No one on this thread that I can see, certainly not Macca. What some people are questioning is whether someone who has played 10 games for a club can be described as a club great, which I think is a pretty reasonable question to ask. You use a straw man type argument to describe those that don’t share your view as having ‘their heads up their colons’… and he’s the one who’s ‘overly negative’?
Macca
Roar Rookie
“Bowers and Cripps aren’t comparable for me” Exactly. Let me ask you this, if the Eagles poach Bowers at the end of this season and Bowers leaves Freo after playing less than 20 games would she be considered a “club great”? No. Bowers is an excellent player but you simply can’t become a club great in a season. When Bowers has won multiple club best and fairest and/or premierships and/or league best and fairests and/or played 100 games and/or turned that “potentially having a societal impact” into actually having a societal impact she will be a “club great” until then she will simply be an excellent current day player.
Steve J
Roar Guru
You're saying she's laid close to 1500 tackles already .... geez
Steve J
Roar Guru
Dunno - ever see Shauny Macs goal from the boundary after being flattened by Wirrapanda in Derby XIII? Not too shabby
Dem Panopoulos
Expert
I tend to agree with the overall sentiment regarding a potentially stagnance in the growth of the league with more list spots in more teams occurring too quickly while young players develop quicker, but ultimately, that has nothing to do with the opinion Bowers. The fact there is a large difference between the best players and the below average players doesn't detract from the ability, determination and football smarts of a player like Bowers. Bowers and Cripps aren't comparable for me - Bowers is a key part in building a league and contributing heavily to the Dockers' brand with her on-field game potentially having a societal impact. These sorts of players are vital throughout history, assisting in the creation of a league's and club's legacy and it's not being positive for the sake of being positive - Bowers is that good.
Macca
Roar Rookie
She might be a "future club great" but after 1 and 1/4 8 game seasons you can not be a club great. I wouldn't call Patrick Cripps a "club great" yet. As for being "overly negative" - I am very bullish on the future of AFLW, however it is simply a fact that there are still too many players with poor skills and adding an extra 120 list spots this year after 60 last year has slowed the improvement in standard which will naturally come as 18 year olds who have come through a proper coaching system replace the lesser skilled workhorses. Having 9 scores of 2 goals or less (and another 5 of just 3 goals) in 14 games seems to back this up. Seemingly not being ridiculously enthusiastic is viewed as overly negative.
Downsey
Roar Pro
I loved the write up, Dem. Bowers definitely deserves the acknowledgement. Making comparisons to the men's game is always problematic though. I'm loving the Gen W evolution :happy:
Downsey
Roar Pro
Within the AFLW context, and within the Dockers women's context, she is a current club great. Amongst the girls at my footy club she's their #1. They rave about her constantly. Anyone who can tune in to watch Bowers play and complain she's under delivering - unless she's genuinely having an off day - has their head well and truly wedged up their colon. I've only really just tuned in again this year so I can't say for sure, but at a glance you do seem overly negative about the AFLW, Macca.
ScottyJ
Roar Rookie
In just 10 games she's already made more tackles than Fyfe and Pav combined. Just saying.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
That is such a silly comment.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
ShaunyMac is in my Hall of Fame.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
A bit premature, but she is better than Ballantyne.
Marty
Roar Rookie
She’s a better kick than McManus.
Marty
Roar Rookie
I would suggest that comparing anyone, male or female, to the likes of Fyfe and Rioli after 10 games is a bit premature really.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
As many comments say above, she's only played 10 games. So we can't say too much about her, but she is a brilliant player as you say
Steve J
Roar Guru
Turbo is a jet in the AFLW, probably should be ranked top 5 as far as players go. But to compare to Doig (100 goals per season in 9 straight seasons), Maurice Rioli, Fyfe, Stephen Michael, or Pavlich is a bit of a stretch. Maye she should be compared to a McManus or Kickett - the heart and soul of a new club making its mark. McManus is a fitting comparison as he had two knee reco's as well