Tayla Harris

To mark International Women’s Day this month, we are launching our Women to Watch in 2020 series. And what better way to kick it off than with the AFLW superstar and campaigner for women and girls who is now an Our Watch Ambassador.

- SUE SMETHURST

Tayla Harris lifts the hem of her training shorts and grins. Her royal blue Carlton footy nicks hide a tattoo of American television doyenne Judge Judy in trademark ‘talk to the hand’ pose. The words ‘Only Judy Can Judge Me’ are inked underneath.

“It was a spur of the moment thing when it was all happening,” Tayla says. “I was feeling very high and mighty, and feeling like no one could judge me.”

The ‘it’ she is referring to is the moment, 12 months ago, when an image of Tayla kicking a goal almost broke the internet – for all the wrong reasons.

It had begun as a normal Sunday afternoon of footy for the AFLW marquee recruit. Tayla’s beloved Carlton Blues were taking on bitter rivals the Western Bulldogs. It was a hard-fought game and the teams were neck and neck. Then, as the clock ticked down and pressure mounted, Tayla marked the ball 40 metres out of the goal square. It was a crucial moment.

The 22-year-old took a few steps back, pacing herself, then launched a blistering kick. Every tendon in her hamstrings visibly flexed to breaking point as her right leg stretched into a grand jeté-like leap, her toes almost touching the heavens.

She propelled the Sherrin straight through the goals. “It was just another day at work for me,” says the talented athlete. “That’s just what I do.”

It was a triumphant moment on the sporting field and Tayla’s majestic athleticism was captured by award-winning photographer Michael Willson, who later posted the striking picture to 7AFL’s social media page in recognition of Tayla’s skill.