7AFL is under fire across the sporting world after removing a photo of AFLW star Tayla Harris after it attracted vile comments from trolls. 7AFL is under fire across the sporting world after removing a photo of AFLW star Tayla Harris after it attracted vile comments from trolls.... AFLW star Tayla Harris has spoken of her revulsion at vile comments made about a now iconic photo of her on the sports field. The action shot of the Carlton star loading up a drop punt during her side’s AFLW final round match against the Western Bulldogs is actually nothing new. The 21-year-old has been snapped by photographers across three AFLW seasons executing her powerful set-shot follow through. The only difference this time was the hate spewed from trolls targeting Harris on social media. The “inappropriate and offensive” comments have armed Harris and the AFLW with a “line in the sand” moment. The swift, widespread and righteous response from across the game in condemning the comments and supporting Harris has created a banner the entire sport — and perhaps the entire country — can rally behind. In short, the trolls have given Harris and her fellow AFLW stars exactly what was needed to blow up any sentiment that online bullying is in any way accepted or normalised. As Harris pointed out in her own response to the issue on Twitter, the photo simply shows her in her place of work. The image shows the elegance, power and athleticism Harris delivers every time she steps on the field. It is this, Harris’ moment of athletic legacy, that appears destined to become further normalised — that women do execute a set of skills to a freakish level when they step on the footy field, and will continue to do so. HARRIS: ‘I’M FEELING EMPOWERED’ Harris made an appearance on breakfast radio on Wednesday morning where she accepted the notion the photo appears certain to become an iconic moment in the development of the AFLW — even if she shrugs off the athleticism on display in the photo captured by Michael Wilson. “I’m feeling empowered this morning,” Harris told RSN Radio’s Breakfast Club. “I think because of the reaction that’s come, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind.” She said the overwhelming response from footy figures, including Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield, has left her further emboldened to push the cause of AFLW players like herself. “I saw that and felt warm inside,” she said. “It is really amazing that the AFL community got around me.” She said the issue of social media attacks on women is much bigger than the AFLW and hopes the AFL and authorities can take action to stop social media trolling ever being accepted. “It’s not about me now, it’s about a much bigger picture,” she said. “I’m happy to talk about this because I’m feeling fine now, but there’s people who may have experienced things like sexual assault who would have seen this too and their reactions might be very different. “We’re not talking about the trolls right now, we’re talking about society right now and a much bigger picture.” She said she has read some of the comments directed at her and said they are simply “repulsive”. “Some of the comments were sexual abuse, what I would consider sexual abuse on social media,” she said. “These people need to be called out by the AFL, but something needs to go further. It’s something maybe Victoria Police have to look at.” RSN Breakfast host and Carlton AFLW coach Daniel Harford declared the image of Harris will inspire the next generation of footy players. “This will be an iconic image of Tayla, similar to the Ted Whitten image,” Harford said. “It will be an iconic photo. We’ve now got this next iconic photo that’s going to take it to the next generation.” They weren’t the only ones who recognised the image as a future statue for the entire sport. One of the best pictures and follow through I’ve seen. Prob should use your style as our logo. It’s legit awesome. Society has some major losers in it, and it is unfortunate you had to come across them. — Prokick Australia (@ProkickAus) March 19, 2019 This picture of @taylaharriss will become iconic for @aflwomens football for generations & will inspire 1000s of girls/women to take up the sport. In fact it may also inspire our US punters to rethink their follow through. @RayGuyAward would be impressed @Cam_Johnston @JBerry_4 pic.twitter.com/OevhFxiFPa — Prokick Australia (@ProkickAus) March 19, 2019 This was pioneer Tayla Harris four years ago, before AFLW even existed. She’s long been the perfect poster girl for women’s footy. Thankfully, her mighty kicking action hasn’t changed. Sadly, some people haven’t either. #kicklikeagirl pic.twitter.com/aZqJK6uwp1 — Sam Landsberger 🗯 (@SamLandsberger) March 19, 2019 AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan on Wednesday morning asked footy fans not to forget the point of the original decision to post the photo of Harris — to celebrate her athleticism. “She is an incredible athlete Tayla Harris and that photo showed what a powerful, strong athletic woman she is,” McLachlan told ABC Sydney. “This is an issue with social media and there are people who make clearly unacceptable comments and whether it’s misogynist or racist or pulling down diversity, we work hard to moderate them, but they’re clearly unacceptable and other people on those platforms, increasingly I think, are holding them to account. “That’s what we need.” NOTHING NEW: ‘THAT’S HOW I KICK’ Harris said she doesn't really understand the fuss behind the photo, saying her booming follow through is simply something she has always done since first playing footy as a 10-year-old. “I’ve seen this photo a few times, but that’s how I kick,” she said. “I thought it was a cool photo. I am proud of myself because the reason I can do it is that I’ve put so much time, money and effort into my body to allow me to do that. “I’m happy for it to be posted everywhere. Really, though, that’s AFL footy and there’s plenty of other cool photos out there.”<doc-sep>Tayla Harris has responded to the outpouring of social media reaction over her kicking action. Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media. Tayla Harris has responded to the outpouring of support following the spreading of a brilliant photo of the Carlton AFLW star over the weekend, suggesting the “animals” should think about her workplace before making “derogatory comments”. Speaking less than 24 hours after the football community showed their support of the photo taken by snapper Michael Wilson, Harris has declared she is feeling “empowered” after the reaction that has come on social media. Channel 7 took down a photo on social media which showed the Blues forwards incredible kicking action in their win over the Western Bulldogs, but the decision sparked a movement for fans to share the photo in their support of Harris. Live stream the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on KAYO SPORTS. Every match of every round. Live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial > “I’m feeling empowered this morning because of the reaction that has come, so it has been a bit of a whirlwind,” Harris told RSN Breakfast. “I’ve seen all of it, the comments … I hope a lot of people don’t know what we are talking about and most of them have [now] been deleted. That created what has happened now “The reason a lot of people have created a bit of an uproar is because 7AFL deleted the post rather than perhaps deleting the comments or perhaps blocking them. Since that a lot of people got on-board including Patrick Dangerfield and other high profile people [who] posted the photo and said ‘let’s share this rather than deleting it and letting them win essentially’. “I kind of saw that and felt a bit warm inside, it felt great. Obviously the AFL community got around me and that was awesome, but it isn’t about me now it’s about a way bigger picture.” MORE AFL NEWS TOM’S TAKE: Top eight shocks, your club’s doomsday scenario LONGSHOTS: Teams most likely to replicate Pies, Tigers’ climb from bottom ‘DISGUSTING’: How this incredible photo united footy world against trolls The photo of Tayla Harris’ kicking action. Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media. Source: Getty Images She said she has read some of the comments directed at her and said they are simply “repulsive”. “Some of the comments were sexual abuse, what I would consider sexual abuse on social media,” she said. “These people need to be called out by the AFL, but something needs to go further. It’s something maybe Victoria Police have to look at.” Harris suggested she wasn’t worried about the comments or cared about “people who have cars as their photos” on social media, but was more worried about other people who have experienced similar reactions and that it could lead to something more sinister. “I’m happy to talk about it because I can but there are people who have this scenario happen to them, whether it’s on a smaller scale or in another area,” Harris said. “I can talk about it because I’m feeling fine now, but there are people in this particular incident that may have experienced something in terms of sexual assault or something like that that would be much more affected and those are the people that if this can help a little bit or help people deter comments like that or even suggestive comments that’s all I can do. LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE FOX FOOTY PODCAST BELOW, OR TAP HERE TO SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES “It’s not about me now, it’s so much bigger. We’re definitely not talking about the trolls right now, we’re talking about a whole bigger picture, it’s society now.” The 21-year-old further reiterated she was worried about what people might be saying behind closed doors, with the possibility of the trolling leading to the start of domestic violence or abuse. “I don’t want to give oxygen to the trolls, but one thing that happens to come to my mind when I saw the comments … I can see in people’s photos they’ve got kids, or they’ve got daughters or women in their photos even and that is the stuff I’m worried about,” she said. “Perhaps this is an issue that might need to go further, because if these people are saying things like this to someone they don’t know on a public platform, what are they saying behind closed doors and what are they doing? “These people need to be called out by the AFL yes, but take it further this is the start of domestic violence maybe this is the start of abuse and the comments that I saw were sexual abuse. It was repulsive and it made me uncomfortable. “Whether it’s Victoria Police or whatever it is, need to contact these people and give them some sort of warning, Facebook need to delete them and something needs to happen. We can talk about it as much as we want, but they are not listening. And they (trolls) are probably smiling about it because we’re talking about it.” Get the ultimate AFL experience on your phone with the FOX FOOTY App. Download it NOW for FREE on iOS and Android!<doc-sep>The social media reaction to a photo of Carlton AFLW star Tayla Harris in action has led to a show of support from many in the football community. AFL photographer Michael Willson snapped the pic during the Blues' three-point final round win over the Bulldogs on Sunday. The picture shows Harris with both feet off the ground in the midst of her trademark follow through. MORE: Max Gawn comments on mental health amid Jesse Hogan rumours The official AFLW Twitter account shared the photo on Sunday, with 7AFL posting it on Tuesday. 7AFL subsequently deleted the image, citing "inappropriate and offensive" comments in the replies. Many of the replies to that post suggested the photo wasn't the problem, with several high-profile football personalities sharing the picture in support of Harris and women's football. Geelong superstar and Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield posted it with the caption "#Fthehaters". Harris herself reshared the picture, along with a message for the trolls. "Here’s a pic of me at work... think about this before your derogatory comments, animals," Harris tweeted. Here’s a pic of me at work... think about this before your derogatory comments, animals. pic.twitter.com/68aBVVbTTj — Tayla Harris (@taylaharriss) March 19, 2019 Harris' teammate and AFLW star Darcy Vescio also posted the snap, saying that removing the tweet was giving in to the trolls. "Deleting the post is giving in to trolls," Vescio wrote. "Also, you’re eliminating all the positive conversation. "Also, you’re removing more content around women in sport - which there’s already so little of. It’s up to everyone to moderate hate." Deleting the post is giving in to trolls. Also, you’re eliminating all the positive conversation. Also, you’re removing more content around women in sport - which there’s already so little of. It’s up to everyone to moderate hate.#taylaharris 📷 @MichaelCWillson pic.twitter.com/CRkYDrZpQK — Darcy Vescio (@darcyvee) March 19, 2019 Broadcasters Gerard Whateley, Neroli Meadows and Stephen Quartermain, as well as cycling legend Anna Meares were just some of many to throw their support behind the key forward on Tuesday evening. The official AFL account also retweeted AFLW's post on Tuesday night. Willson later posted the complete series from which the picture came from. Later on Tuesday night, 7AFL reposted the image, and also pinned it to the top of their Twitter account. "We're sorry. Removing the photo sent the wrong message," the post read. "Many of the comments made on the post were reprehensible & we'll work harder to ban trolls from our pages. Our intention was to highlight @taylaharriss incredible athleticism & we'll continue to celebrate women's footy." We're sorry. Removing the photo sent the wrong message. Many of the comments made on the post were reprehensible & we'll work harder to ban trolls from our pages. Our intention was to highlight @taylaharriss incredible athleticism & we'll continue to celebrate women's footy. pic.twitter.com/p24Ll08LRC — 7AFL (@7AFL) March 19, 2019 Harris' Blues topped conference B after the regular season, setting up a preliminary final clash against Fremantle at Princes Park on Saturday afternoon.<doc-sep>The photograph of Tayla Harris which attracted abuse from trolls on social media is set to be used at the forefront of AFLW's marketing efforts as soon as this week. Not since Nicky Winmar lifted his guernsey and pointed to his skin at Victoria Park in 1993 has the AFL seen such an instantly iconic image than the one of Harris in full flight taken by AFL Media's Michael Willson on Sunday. Standing up: Carlton AFLW star Tayla Harris fronts the media in Melbourne on Wednesday afternoon. Credit:Justin McManus While it was initially catapulted into the public spotlight for all the wrong reasons, AFLW boss Nicole Livingstone told the Herald the league was determined to harness the positive momentum behind it. After the Seven Network's dedicated AFL social media channels took the photo down on Tuesday night in response to a flood of "inappropriate and offensive" comments made about Harris, other users - among them Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield and champion Olympic cyclist Anna Meares - re-posted it in solidarity.<doc-sep>
Tayla Harris was subjected to vile comments on social media. The footy community has showed their support for Carlton AFLW star Tayla Harris after disgusting comments were posted on a brilliant photo of her taken by snapper Michael Willson. Channel 7 took down a post spotlighting the star’s incredible kicking motion during the Blues’ win over the Western Bulldogs on the weekend, saying the image attracted “a number of comments, some of which were inappropriate and offensive”. The network then sent a second statement apologising for taking the image down. Live stream the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on KAYO SPORTS. Every match of every round. Live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial > “We’re sorry. Removing the photo sent the wrong message,” 7AFL tweeted. “Many of the comments made on the post were reprehensible & we’ll work harder to ban trolls from our pages. “Our intention was to highlight @taylaharriss incredible athleticism & we’ll continue to celebrate women’s footy.” The incredible photo of Tayla Harris. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media) Source: Getty Images But the decision to delete the photo sparked a movement to share the photo far and wide across social media in support of Harris. She herself tweeted the photo with the comment: “Here’s a pic of me at work... think about this before your derogatory comments, animals.” Deputy chair of the ABC, Dr Kirstin Ferguson, helped spark the posts with her response to Seven’s decision. “Of all the possible responses to the online denigration women face on a daily basis online, removing evidence of their contributions/skills/strength should be last on that list,” she tweeted. “I hope photos of @taylaharriss in full flight now flood our social media platforms.” AFL commentator Andy Maher posted: “To every timid, pathetic man who responded to a magnificent photo of a highly talented footballer, know this: your name was identifiable and it was you who was diminished. Grow up.” LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE FOX FOOTY PODCAST BELOW, OR TAP HERE TO SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES Many others also shared their support, including current AFL players.