Tayla Harris lifts Carlton to a vital AFLW win over Greater Western Sydney

Tayla Harris has helped Carlton belt GWS by 29 points in Sydney, where the visitors made their first win of the AFLW season one to remember. However, should the star Blue be worried about a high bump?

Boxer Tayla Harris has helped Carlton belt GWS by 29 points in Sydney, where the visitors made their first win of the AFLW season one to remember.

Harris, who is ranked fifth in the WBA middleweight charts, booted three goals and clutched six marks while spearheading a dominant display from the Blues’ forward line at Blacktown Oval.

Carlton registered their highest score in AFLW history, prevailing 10.5 (65) to 5.6 (36) on Saturday.

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Star forward Darcy Vesico was lively for Carlton, kicking a goal and directly setting up two others, while Maddy Prespakis backed up her Rising Star nomination with three goals and a game-high 21 disposals.

Harris was crunched in a third-quarter marking contest, just one week after being a late omission because of a shoulder injury, but allayed fears of a serious setback by grabbing yet another contested mark early in the fourth term.

Tayla Harris celebrates one of her goals for the Blues. Picture: Getty Images

Harris slotted the resultant sealer from the goal square then later floored Pepa Randall with a bump that is likely to be scrutinised by the match review officer.

Yvonne Bonner, who snapped a goal-of-the-year contender in the second quarter, excelled for the hosts but the Giants’ defence was regularly under siege. Both teams were seeking their first win of the year but knew, sitting in the weaker of the two AFLW conferences, that their path to the finals wasn’t nearly as precarious as it ordinarily would be if there was a single ladder.

Carlton started strongly, kicking the opening two goals of the game but GWS fought back.

The second quarter followed a similar narrative initially, with goals from Irishwomen Cora Staunton and Bonner trimming Carlton’s lead to seven points. Bonner’s effort was remarkable by anybody’s standards, let alone a Gaelic footballer who knew very little about the game two months ago and is still learning the intricacies of certain rules.

Tayla Harris was dominant in the air for the Blues. Picture: Getty Images

The 31-year-old hunted down the Sherrin deep in the forward pocket, took possession, brushed would-be tackler Jayde Van Dyk, stepped around and snapped truly.

But the Blues regained control, boasted a 20-point halftime lead and rallied whenever challenged in the second half.