Harris heads to the Blues
CRANBOURNE v GEELONG Sunday, Frenken Homes Oval, Cranbourne, 2pm Inter: A. Drennan, K. Cunico, T. Thomas, E. Wallace Emg: E. Timmermans, N. Fullwood, A. Heins Inter: C. Hynes, H. Trevean, M. Maguire, J. Woollett Emg: E. Hoare, E. Ramsay, E. Crawford, R. Shapter BOOM Carlton recruit Tayla Harris cried when she told coach Craig Starcevich she was leaving Brisbane Lions, but her old coach was among the first yesterday to wish the star well at the Blues.
The former Lions marquee forward joins league-leading goalkicker Darcy Vescio at the Blues in what on paper is the most formidable attack in AFLW02.
Harris said it had been a stressful two weeks since she declared she wanted to move from her home state to a Victorian club.
There was interest from Melbourne, but she had her heart set on the Blues after meeting coach Damien Keeping and the AFL signed off on the deal yesterday.
Harris is expected to be signed on the middle tier-two salary, but her playing wage will be bolstered by a share of Carlton’s $40,000 ambassador fund and potential employment at the club.
“I think relief is probably the word that comes to mind first, but really excited as well,” she said yesterday.
“It’s something that I’ve thought of as an opportunity and now that’s it’s happening I can really think about how to make it all come together.
“The decision was hard, it wasn’t in any way easy to make, but I saw it as more of an opportunity to develop personal stuff . . . to put myself in a new situation where I’m probably out of my comfort zone.
“I thought I would fit into the team quite well. It’s quite young, but then there’s also people like Bri (Davey) and Darcy (Vescio) at the forefront of Carlton who I really like as people.
“I thought it would be a good place for me to grow, in footy and out of footy.”
Harris said while emotional when telling Starcevich she wanted to leave, “no one’s got any hard feelings, everyone understood this was a personal thing for me to move.
“I really appreciate everything they’ve done for me, especially Craig. He’s been so supportive. He was one of the first people to message me and say congratulations.”
The AFL rejected several offers put to the Lions for Harris by the Blues in the interest of competition fairness.
The AFL essentially forced Carlton to give up three players for Harris. Rookie Nat Exon and Bendigo teenage forward Bella Ayre are heading to the Lions and the Blues’ No.1 draft pick from last season, Bianca Jakobsson, is now a Demon.
The Bulldogs also benefited, receiving rising star Deanna Berry from Melbourne and then handing pick 12 (pick No.7 of Victorian talent given the state-based nature of the draft) to the Blues.
AFLW boss Josh Vanderloo said an initial offer of Ayre and Exon in a straight swap for Harris was not fair.
‘”You’re talking two tierthree players for a marquee player,” Vanderloo said.
“(With the signed deal) don’t look at it in isolation. Carlton have given up Jakobsson, Ayre and Exon and have received Tayla and pick 12 which the AFL, the other clubs and ultimately Carlton felt was fair.”
Harris is concentrating on her boxing career, with a bout on June 24 after which she plans to play with VFL Women’s club St Kilda Sharks.
The Blues also won the signature of Collingwood best and fairest Nicola Stevens in the trade period.