Known for her hard work on the field, Kiara Bowers tackles everyday life in a similar manner.
Known as ‘Turbo’ by her peers, the nickname perfectly encapsulates a life spent in the fast lane.
Since the 2020 AFLW season came to an abrupt end in March, the 29-year-old and her partner Adele Coxall welcomed baby boy Nate, and Bowers also completed her trade certificate of carpentry and joinery.
By 5am, Bowers is at work, furthering her career in preparation for life after footy.
At 4pm, 11 hours later, she knocks off and spends the next hour commuting to Fremantle’s training base at Cockburn to train for the forthcoming AFLW season.
Three and a half hours later, at around 8.30pm, Bowers returns home and sets her alarm to do it all again the next morning.
“It (her apprenticeship) was supposed to take four years but I got signed off after three and a half,” Bowers said.
“It just means now I can’t make as many mistakes as before.
“I started when I first started playing footy.
“I was able to take the dip in pay to be an apprentice so I thank football for that otherwise I probably wouldn’t have done it.”
Consuming around 15 of a precious 24 hour day, Bowers admits the balance is “extremely tough.”
But the bulk of Bowers’ AFLW journey has been tough.
Three knee constructions, two seasons missed through recovery, and her team’s undefeated season cut short by a global pandemic – 11 hour days are more than manageable.
“It’s challenging but I wouldn’t change a thing,” she said.
“It keeps me fit and I probably don’t have to lift that much in the gym because I’m doing it all at work.
“I’m hoping one day I’ll be able to run my own team.
“They’re really good to me, especially with football so I want to work my way up there and they’ve given me the pathway to do that.”
While nights on the track are a welcome pursuit of excellence, Bowers’ favourite evenings are those spent at home with her family.
Bowers is already considered one of the most determined footballers in the league, but is more motivated than ever by the thought of her seven-month old joining her in the team song.
“I spend every Wednesday, Friday night and every minute of every weekend annoying him and my partner,” she joked.
“I miss him incredibly.
“I couldn’t do it without them.
“They make it very easy for me to come down here and focus on footy without having to worry about anything.
Her challenging schedule means Bowers is spared from soothing midnight cries – at least during footy season.
“I don’t deserve her,” she said of Coxall.
“She thinks I’ve got it hard heading to work and then heading to training but she’s dealing with him at midnight and doing the feeds so she’s more incredible than me.”
The two-time All Australian hasn’t wasted any time try to coerce her son’s future sporting pathway.
Bowers already holds the mantle of Fremantle’s first signed AFLW player.
But she hopes Nate could be the first mother-son selection.
“He’ll probably be a chess player knowing my luck,” Bowers joked.
“I’ve said it before but if you put a footy in his hands too many times, soon enough he’ll pick it up.
“I’ll have to make sure I can knock off some records he can’t beat if he ever does play.
“If he does play, I hope it’s down at this club because it’s a wicked club to be at and I wouldn’t want him anywhere else.”
From All-Australian selections, to Fremantle best and fairests, Bowers will eventually end her career as one of the game’s most celebrated players.
But team success, at least at the highest level, still eludes her and her teammates.
It’s the heartbreak of having their 2020 season ripped away that’s driving even more internal improvement.
“It was tough for everyone and there were teams in the same boat, winning games and flying high,” Bowers said.
“We’ve come in ready to go this season.
“We’ve got such good young talent, even from the season before.
“They’re making sure us old girls lift our game as well.”
