Opinion: Aussie rules player Tayla Harris regaining power from trolls is something to praise

AFLW player Tayla Harris at work. Photo / Getty Images

Tayla Harris - what a legend!

For those who don't know who this woman is - she is an athletic and skilled Aussie rules (AFLW) player for the Melbourne-based Carlton Football Club, and she is a pro boxer who is yet to lose a professional bout.

A photo of Harris, depicting her athleticism, flexibility and power went viral this week.

But that image, taken during a kick in a game against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, has gone viral for all the wrong reasons.

The image, on social media, was met by a barrage of offensive comments that were sexualised, explicit and disgusting, as though she was a thing and not a person whose body was doing amazing things while simply doing her job.

But it is her actions after being attacked, in my opinion, that have been stellar, allowing her to regain the power from those abusing her.

Not only has she publicly spoken out about how the comments made her feel uncomfortable, but also how she considered much of it as a form of sexual assault.

An Australian television network took the image down after the comments as a way to protect Harris, but that was met with an outcry from many saying they instead should have moderated and reported the comments because not doing so meant no actions were taken against the online trolls.

Harris has since shared the image on her own social media sites, highlighting the fact that it was taken while she was "at work", doing her job and referring to those posting the "derogatory comments" as animals.

Here’s a pic of me at work... think about this before your derogatory comments, animals. pic.twitter.com/68aBVVbTTj

— Tayla Harris (@tayla_harris7) March 19, 2019

She has since called on the AFL, social media giants and police to take action to show that misogynist attitudes are not okay, and will not be tolerated.

Fair enough.

The image is nothing we haven't seen before. Do a quick image search with the keywords 'AFL kick', and you won't have any trouble spotting her male counterparts in similar positions. It also is not the only sport where athletes can be photographed demonstrating similar athleticism.

Think gymnastics, think ballet or synchronised swimming to name a few - sports where words such as poise and grace are more likely to be used to describe their work, rather than being subject to vulgarity.

Like everybody, Harris should be able to do her job without being subject to abuse.

She should be proud of what her body, which allows her to do her job, can do.

I know I'd be pretty happy if I had her athleticism, flexibility and power.