Photo of Tayla Harris a pivotal moment in saying ‘no more’ to internet trolls

The wonderful football photograph of Tayla Harris displays power, acceptance and inclusion, writes Mark Robinson. After gutter comments on the image, ‘the kick’ is a symbol for all of us to say: No more.

Tayla Harris wanted the photograph taken.

She spoke to the snapper, the AFL’s Michael Wilson, before the game on Saturday and asked him to capture the moment: Full extension of the leg, high off the ground, body slightly twisted, eyes on the delivery.

It is now a moment in time.

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Not only is it a symbol of staggering athleticism and panache from one of the game’s most spectacular players, it has become a symbol of power, acceptance and inclusion.

This is a wonderful football photograph.

Yet, some members of society don’t see it like that.

Social media first lit up when the photograph was posted on Twitter on Sunday night under the slogan “You kick like a girl’’.

It was retweeted because it was astonishing athleticism.

I was lucky enough to speak to Harris at the Fox Footy season launch on Monday. She had the quite the audience. Nick Riewoldt and Harris had a chinwag. Two blonde types who played in the same position with the same flair and agility.

It seemed everyone was talking about “the kick’’ in this footy-crazy fraternity.

Over the next 24 hours, widespread admiration on social media was infiltrated by disgust and delinquency.

So much so, Channel 7 took down a Facebook post because of the vile comments posted about the photo.

AFL Players Association boss Paul Marsh was furious.

“AFLW finals week and sadly we are dealing with another example of vile abuse of our players on social media. This is a daily occurrence. Time for people to celebrate our players, not troll them. As an industry we need to work together to crack down on this behaviour,’’ he tweeted.

He posted some of the comments that disgusted him.

One made a disgusting reference to transgender footballer Hannah Mouncey. Another discussed female genitalia.

We reference these posts to shame them these numb skulls, but we will not publish them in full. Marsh wanted to do the same.

Tayla Harris sends the ball forward for the Blues. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media

As much as they are gutter and puerile comments, “the kick’’ surely is a symbol for all of us to say: No more.

Harris posted the photo on Tuesday with the words — “Here’s a pic of me at work … think about this before your derogatory comments, animals.”

The social media world, and Harris speaking again on RSN Radio this morning, have lashed the trolls.

“The comments I saw were sexual abuse if you can call it that, because it was repulsive and it made me uncomfortable,” Harris said.

“That’s what I would consider sexual abuse on social media, so whether its Victoria Police or whatever it is need to at least contact these people or some sort of warning, Facebook delete them, something needs to happen because we can talk about this as much as we want but they’re not listening and they’re probably smiling about it, that we’re talking about it. So something needs to go further, I think.”

Tayla Harris and the Blues will face Fremantle in an AFLW preliminary final on Saturday.

Hopefully, it can be learning experience for the small-minded out there that this is unacceptable.

Clearly, it will be a learning experience for Channel 7.

They took down the photo yesterday because of the vile comments and then reinstated it last late night and have issued an apology.

Instead of taking down “the kick”, the network should’ve deleted the negative comments.

They know they made a mistake and corrected it.

This is not a social justice warrior moment, this is a moment when the lovers of the game, both men and women of profile and non-profile, railed against indecency.

Carlton teammate and Herald Sun columnist Darcy Vescio said it most perfectly: “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.’’

Simple, yet powerful from Darcy.

The condemnation of Channel 7 is understandable, but give them a break.

Energise the condemnation for the pathetic cowards who sexualised a stunning, elegant and powerful image of women’s football.

Better still, share “the kick’’ in celebration, for it absolutely deserves it.

It’s the photo of the year thus far.

Originally published as Photo of Tayla Harris a pivotal moment in saying ‘no more’ to internet trolls