Collingwood defender Stacey Livingstone says Carlton’s Tayla Harris ‘useless’ in post-match interview
Collingwood defender Stacey Livingstone didn’t back down after calling Carlton forward Tayla Harris “useless” but the pair have spoken since yesterday’s match.
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Collingwood defender Stacey Livingstone has apologised to Carlton counterpart Tayla Harris after labelling her “useless” at ground level.
The Magpie – who set the AFLW scene alight with her dramatic post-match comments on Sunday afternoon, which were doubled down in the press conference – reached out to Harris on Sunday evening to issue the apology, which is understood to have been accepted by the Blues star.
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Harris said she considered the matter dealt with.
“I’m really not phased by it,” she told the Herald Sun.
“She’s apologised, so I don’t want to add useless commentary.”
The Blues forward – who leads the competition for contested marks – will face the Bulldogs on Saturday, having kicked two goals so far this season.
Livingstone conceded she made a poor of choice of words but reiterated her view about the way Harris plays.
“I probably could have chosen my words better,” Livingstone told Triple M on Monday morning.
“But I do feel if you take her out of the air contest somehow then you should have her covered.”
Harris took to Twitter on Sunday night to declare she wished the two teams would face off again this season.
Harford – who served as assistant coach at Collingwood before his tenure at Carlton began – said on Monday morning that Livingstone’s comment simply “doesn’t stack up”.
“Anyone who’s seen Tayla play would know that … the detail of the conversation and the comment from Stacey doesn’t stack up,” he said on RSN.
“Doesn’t stack up. Tayla’s more than capable when the ball is on the ground.”
Harford said he believed Livingstone went in with the exact plan to deprive Harris of the ball in the air.
“As a defender and knowing Stacey like I do, that’s absolutely how she would have prepared for that,” the coach said.
“So that makes perfect sense. She said what she said and in that moment, I think it’s become a really big story because of those emotive words like ‘useless’ create great emotion.”
Same
— Tayla Harris (@taylaharriss) February 16, 2020
Livingstone had the better of their duel in Collingwood’s 15-point win over Carlton on Sunday and then criticised Harris after the match for having a one-dimensional game.
“You just gotta stop her in the air. That’s her game,” Livingstone said on Channel 7.
“If you can do that, she’s useless.”
Livingstone didn’t back away when asked about her comments in the post-match press conference, having a second crack at her opponent.
“She’s pretty good. It was a bit of smack talk,” Livingstone said.
“You’ve just got to stop her run to the ball and if you can stop her aerially, she doesn’t do all that much.”
Harris kicked one goal in the 15-point loss and showed her class last year brushing off a torrent of online abuse over an award-winning photo of her kicking in full flight.
She is widely considered one of the AFLW’s best players.
Harford rushed to Harris’ defence after the match, saying Livingstone’s post-match taunts were “borderline garbage”.
“That’s someone who is feeling really good about themselves after the game and she is entitled to feel really happy about the way she played and the way her team played,” Harford said.
“Anyone who has watched Tayla play would know that is not the case. That’s borderline garbage.
“But she (Livingstone) got the better of the battle today, so I think that is a bit of adrenaline and the excitement of taking down one of the stars of the competition.
“But to suggest there is only one element to Tayla’s game is fodder.”
AFLW premiership coach Bec Goddard questioned whether Livingstone meant to be so forthright, although her honesty has been praised by social media users.
“I think at the end of a big game and a big win, sometimes with a bit of dehydration, the words don’t come out exactly how they might be meant,” she said.
“Maybe Stacey will go back and look at that. She did do a terrific job on Tayla today and I think four seasons in now, she’s learned how to play her.”
Dylan Leach said the next meeting between Livingstone and Harris would be “something to behold”, while Nick Giles said it was “all happening in the AFLW”.
Livngstone v Harris perfect in building rivalry. Livingstone throws a jab, Harris has fired back after @HarfSerious fired back. #AFLW #likeit
— Mark Robinson (@Robbo_heraldsun) February 16, 2020
What it will do is make the matchup of Stacey Livingstone and Tayla something to behold next time they meet. Not a bad prospect I would have thought
— Dylan Leach (@leachitup) February 16, 2020
Whoa. Pies player just called Tayla Harris useless. All happening in the AFLW
— Nick Giles (@EagleGiles23) February 16, 2020