Carlton forward Tayla Harris says AFLW club’s support has been crucial to her boxing success
Tayla Harris has credited the support of those at Carlton with helping her land her second national title within a month on Friday. Here’s how Blues bosses have supported their cross-code star’s boxing career.
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From an Australian title to footy training.
It was a whirlwind 12 hours for cross-code star Tayla Harris who brought some handy extra baggage along to Carlton AFLW training on Saturday – the national super welterweight belt.
Harris, 22, late on Friday night defeated Janay Harding to claim her second national belt within a month before fronting to a Blues testing session at Ikon Park.
“I’m just stoked,” Harris told the Herald Sun.
“Boxing would seem like an individual sport, but it’s really a massive team sport. I lean on a lot of people to get me where I am.
“I want to share it with them as much as myself.
“There was a few testing things – the girls were doing a gym program but I was around the group and had a few meetings. I kicked the footy around with dad on Ikon Park, which is always nice.”
The Blues forward said she was made to do it the hard way against Harding, getting “the fight I wanted” before demolishing the Kiwi combat fighter by TKO after one final flurry.
Harris – who admitted she had “jelly legs” during the fight after a significant weight cut – said she was fuelled after hearing Harding’s team tell her to “rough (Harris) up” and said she knew what was coming.
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“That (result) could have happened in the first round, but I wouldn’t have wanted it that way,” she said.
“I’m actually even more happy that that was the fight that happened.
“Janay came out really strong and tested me, and to be able to take a little bit of punishment and some punches – and credit to her, she worked hard – I managed to capitalise on a good shot that I made … it was really a bit of a roller coaster.”
The fight at Melbourne Pavilion was attended by Carlton head honchos in chief executive Cain Liddle – whose daughter braided Harris’ hair for the fight – and football boss Brad Lloyd, with president Mark LoGiudice shooting Harris a text in the lead-up to the bout.
She said to have had the Blues’ support in her endeavour was invaluable.
“I can’t explain how much it means to me,” she said.
“Your two bosses to come and support you in your pursuit outside of work … it just proves what culture we have at Carlton and the relationships that I’ve managed to form.
“That’s the reason why I’ll be at Carlton for a long time, because of the commitment they show to me and I’ll want to reciprocate that.”
Harris now turns her focus back to AFLW with training officially beginning on Monday.