Mark Robinson: Tayla Harris’ on-field impact is dramatically reduced this season as she’s seen her role changed

A change of role has meant Tayla Harris’ has been a shadow of her former self on-field this AFLW season. At 26 and at her third club, have we seen the best of the one-time drawcard?

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 12: Kate Hore (left) and Tayla Harris of the Demons look dejected after a loss during the 2023 AFLW Second Qualifying Final match between The Melbourne Demons and The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos at IKON Park on November 12, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Tayla Harris has kicked just three goals this AFLW season, which is a modest return from the one-time queen of the competition.

A changed role and the emergence of teammate Eden Zanker as the No. 1 key forward at Melbourne has reshaped Harris’ season, so much so her standing as one of the game’s best players has diminished.

Her role for the Demons, however, can’t be dismissed, it’s just that she’s not the box office gem she once was.

Not so long ago, her famous right leg was anointed with a statue, her boxing was riding shotgun with her dazzling footy career, there was the highly-hyped doco, the billboards and countless speaking engagements

Just this year, Harris was the headline act with Olympic champion Cathy Freeman at one function.

Tayla Harris with Demons captain Kate Hore after the Demons’ shock finals loss to North Melbourne. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Her footy, though, hasn’t been so lofty.

At 26, and at her third club after stints at Brisbane and Carlton, you have to wonder if the women’s world has already seen the best of highly-paid Harris.

Off the field, Harris lost her first professional fight just five weeks out from the season opener.

On the field, her role is higher than her previous deep forward position. She’s often the get-out kick from the Melbourne defence to the wing, and has played the third ruck role behind Lauren Pearce and youngster Georgia Campbell.

She missed four games, three of them because of a hamstring injury from Rounds 7-9.

Her role, according her former coach and Fox Footy expert Daniel Harford, has changed.

“She is seemingly playing a different role, she’s not the hit-up focal point, she’s more the contest player, the down-the-line target player,’’ Harford said.

“Watching her play, she has matured enormously.

“She’s prepared to do a lot more of the grind than perhaps previous editions.

“I’ve been relatively impressed with the way she’s evolved as a teammate.’’

It’s been a year of change for Harris.

She and longtime manager Alex Saundry split and Harris joined Nikki Craig at NC Management, whose website boasts Ash Barty, Craig Bellamy, Stephanie Gilmore, Brian Taylor, Matthew Richardson and Harris’s good friend and former Melbourne teammate Daisy Pearce as clients.

Tayla Harris lost her first professional fight to Millicent Agboegbulen just five weeks out from the season opener Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

The new partnership is yet to map out the long-term future for Harris, but it’s understood she is contracted to the Demons for at least another season.

Boxing internationally could be on the agenda.

Privately, social media watchers have noted that Harris no longer posts pictures of her and Kodi Jacques, who was a prominent figure in the 2022 documentary Kick Like Tayla.

An All Australian in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022 (season six), Harris in season seven arguably played her best footy of her career, which culminated in a Melbourne premiership.

She averaged 115 ranking points and kicked 11 goals.

This year, her marking numbers have improved, but her goal tally and goal accuracy (3.6) have plummeted.

Teammates Zanker and brilliant forward-mid Kate Hore shared the league leading goalkicking award with 20, meaning Harris was delegated to being the third wheel.

Zanker has been the target inside 50m 43 times (11 games) to Harris’s 24 (seven games)

The Demons were crushed physically by North Melbourne last Saturday and play the improved Geelong in a knockout final this Saturday.

Harris was so-so in an overall disappointing game for the Demons against the Kangas.

Also AFLW watchers would note that Harris has not been a dominant player in finals matches across her career.

Her numbers drastically drop in ranking points, disposals, marks and score.

Hardly numbers befitting of a one-time superstar.