Tayla Harris photo: 7AFL reposts iconic image after football community rallies behind AFLW star

James Pavey

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Tayla Harris photo: 7AFL reposts iconic image after football community rallies behind AFLW star image

7AFL have caved to widespread condemnation of their decision to remove the iconic photo of AFLW star Tayla Harris from their Twitter account.

The photo of Harris in full flight was snapped by Michael Willson during Carlton's thrilling win over Western Bulldogs over the weekend. 

The official AFLW Twitter account shared the photo on Sunday, before 7AFL posted it on Tuesday.

However, "inappropriate" social media reaction to the photo prompted 7AFL to remove it from their account.

#GoTaylaGo: Tayla Harris photo sparks passionate social media response

"Recently we published an image of AFLW player Tayla Harris. The original purpose in publishing the image was to celebrate power, athleticism and skills on show in Carlton's thrilling win over the Western Bulldogs," 7AFL wrote.

"The image attracted a number of comments, some of which were inappropriate and offensive. As a consequence we have removed the image and the comments."


However, 7AFL's move was widely condemned - notably, Harris' Carlton teammate and AFLW star Darcy Vescio - who wrote a stirring piece to the Herald Sun in February regarding online trolls - suggested that removing the tweet was "giving in to the trolls".

"You’re eliminating all the positive conversation," Vescio wrote.

"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."


After being battered from pillar to post, 7AFL reposted the photo later on Tuesday night, and also pinned it to the top of their Twitter account.

Their message was loud and clear. "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."


Vescio's response was just one of many to suggest that the photo wasn't the problem, and that 7AFL had misread the room.

Geelong star and AFLPA president Patrick Dangerfield led the chorus against detractors of the photo, posting it with the caption "#Fthehaters".










 

 

On Wednesday morning, Harris responded to the outpouring of support from the footy community, and suggested 7AFL's initial decision to remove the photo was the wrong move.

"I'm feeling empowered this morning because of the reaction that has come, so it has been a bit of a whirlwind," she said.

"I've seen all of it, I've seen the comments... I hope a lot of people don't know what we are talking about and they won't because [the comments] have been deleted since. That created what has come 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 the commenters."

James Pavey

James Pavey Photo