Tayla Harris is an AFLW athlete whose extreme talent deserves to be celebrated on the public stage. Here she is scoring the first goal of the game for Carlton in a match against the Western Bulldogs with her signature kicking style, and demonstrating what elite athleticism looks like.
Perfect follow-through and @taylaharriss.
Name a more iconic duo.#AFLWPrideGame #AFLW pic.twitter.com/zc0i4Lr1oe
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) March 17, 2019
7AFL shared the snap of Harris from AFL photographer Michael Wilson and, unfortunately, gross trolls (read: mostly man babies) flocked to inundate the post with derogatory, smutty comments.
In response, 7AFL took down the image of Tayla Harris, blaming the ‘inappropriate and offensive” comments.
— 7AFL (@7AFL) March 19, 2019
But there are two problems here that need to be called out. One of them is the fact that 7AFL’s response was to remove the image of Harris, instead of removing the absolutely disgusting comments.
The sexualisation of women athletes and resistance to take them seriously is something that needs to be actively dismantled. We can not erase women from the public coverage of sports because there is a (loud) portion of the audience that can’t give them the respect they deserve.
People have hit back at 7AFL for choosing the easy option of removing the AFLW post, instead of addressing the real problem – the trolls.
And this is how women’s sport is pushed aside. Poor form @afl7 caving to the haters. Surely there was an option that didn’t erase Tayla Harris https://t.co/B8rGpT2aVV
— Briana Goding (@breejade85) March 19, 2019
Tayla Harris’ trademark kicking style is something to be celebrated, and has been since #AFLW began in 2017. Athleticism, skill & power in full flight. Comments can be deleted; she shouldn’t be. So as well as the original image, here’s 8 more ?? pic.twitter.com/VoAj35ri5y
— Elaine Buckley (@ElaineBucko) March 19, 2019
the comments were inappropriate and offensive, not the photo.
— Brodie Lancaster (@brodielancaster) March 19, 2019
The second problem, and the core problem, is that there was such a vulgar, sexist reaction to the photo in the first place. There is still a long way to go in demanding women athletes the respect they deserve and it’s a fight that gains heat in the wake of these incidents.
The public is rallying behind Tayla Harris by celebrating her elite athleticism, and sharing the photo that was taken down. Some, including Harris herself, are directly calling out the trolling behaviour that was used to degrade her and caused the photo to be taken down.
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
The clapbacks are both plentiful and glorious.
This is a brilliant athlete in full flight. Something to celebrate. Just over three years ago women did not play Australian Football at the elite level. The result of this leap – a goal from 40m out. @aflwomens @taylaharriss #taylaharris https://t.co/HJsxAYsROD
— Nicole Livingstone (@NicLiv) March 19, 2019
What an amazing athlete. My 9 y.o. son is now running around trying to replicate this. Legend ???? https://t.co/I3AZdRvIEJ
— Lisa Mac (@Lisa_Medisa) March 19, 2019
Athleticism at its best! A wonderful role model for girls in any sport. https://t.co/3wZE2UXyT4
— Adele Gregson (@adele_gregson) March 19, 2019
Petition to make this the AFLW logo https://t.co/X3R4Z0CbnL
— Matt “Matthew” Hofmann (@matt_hofmann) March 19, 2019
there’s a thousand mediocre dudes but there’s only one Tayla Harris pic.twitter.com/Jemqeryb0p
— andie (@anndeejam) March 19, 2019
The incident signals that there is work to be done to tackle the degradation of women’s sport and athletes, but at least the vocal support for Tayla Harris shows that there are plenty of us ready to fight for it.