Fox Footy’s longest kick: AFLW star Tayla Harris finishes third with incredible 61.5m bomb
Tayla Harris stunned onlookers with a massive torpedo in Fox Footy’s longest kick competition — and followed up with an emotional message to an old friend.
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Tayla Harris has emulated her iconic ‘The Kick’ image that was immortalised with a bronze statue in Federation Square, beating out many of her AFL brethren to finish third in Fox Footy’s longest kick competition.
Harris, whose photograph and ensuing statue has become an enduring symbol for women’s sport — and attracted a share of critics, including AFL legend Malcolm Blight — showed off her prodigious talent, launching a perfect torpedo that sailed 61.5m across the Yarra River.
The spiral was good enough for third place on the contest, behind only Demon Clayton Oliver (66.8m) and Crow Brodie Smith (66m).
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But the AFLW star said the competition wasn’t the same without former host Danny Frawley, who died after a single-vehicle accident three weeks ago.
Won’t be the same without Spud today but will be sure to roost a torp for him in the @FOXFOOTY longest kick at 10:30am today ✊🼠pic.twitter.com/fBdb5JiGIb
— Tayla Harris (@taylaharriss) September 27, 2019
That was for you Spud! â¤ï¸ https://t.co/o1z2v8XVN6
— Tayla Harris (@taylaharriss) September 28, 2019
The connection between the pair went beyond meetings at Fox Footy.
Harris and Frawley were part of a syndicate that owned pacer Shadow Sax. The owners also included Essendon defender Michael Hurley, SEN presenters Garry Lyon and Tim Watson, and Channel 7’s Hamish McLachlan.
Harris’s monster kick yesterday went further than those from AFL stars Daniel Rich, Chad Wingard, Charlie Curnow, Taylor Walker and Josh Kennedy, but was typically understated when asked what she thought of her kick.
“Yeah, it wasn’t too bad,” the Blues gun said.
Fox commentator and Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall was more pumped.
“Right now, there’s another 10 blokes in the tent going OMG, we’re in trouble, we are in serious trouble, that is the purest spiral,” Dunstall mused.
Harris said she was humbled by the statue, which was commissioned by AFLW sponsor NAB earlier this month.
RECAP THE LONGEST KICK HERE AT FOXFOOTY.COM.AU
“I hope people pose with it and take photos and that it helps people feel confident and see that good things can come from being brave,” Harris said at the statue’s unveiling.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman, young or old — everyone has a right to do what they love.”
Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon won the celebrity longest kick with a distance of 60.5 metres.
LONGEST KICK 2019
Clayton Oliver — 66.8m
Brodie Smith — 66m
Tayla Harris — 61.5m
Daniel Rich — 61.5m
Chad Wingard — 61.4m
Charlie Curnow — 61m
Taylor Walker — 57.4m
Josh Kennedy — 49.6m
Jaidyn Stephenson — 48.9m
Sabrina Fredrick — 47.5m
Aaron Sandilands — 46.5m
LONGEST KICK HONOUR ROLL
2015: Drew Petrie (North Melbourne) — 60.4m
2016: Bryce Gibbs (Carlton) — 72.3m
2017: Brendan Fevola (ex-Carlton, Brisbane) — 66.1m
2018: Jack Gunston (Hawthorn) — 66.9m
2019: Clayton Oliver (Melbourne) — 66.8m
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