TAYLA HARRIS KICKING GOALS
THE AFLW STAR LETS THE CAMERAS INTO HER LIFE AND HOPES OTHERS CAN BE INSPIRED BY HER MESSAGE
Aussie Rules star Tayla Harris doesn’t really care what most people think of her. What she cares deeply about is how other people feel about themselves. It’s one of the reasons why the 25-yearold agreed to open her life to a documentary crew and speak candidly about the controversies that have dotted her short time in the spotlight.
“This is not about adjusting anybody’s opinion of me,” she explains to WHO in a chat over Zoom.
“People will think whatever they want to think about me and that’s their own choice. What my loved ones and my close family and friends know about me is all that matters to me. It was never about changing the opinion of anyone I don’t actually know.
“I thought it might be useful for someone who might end up watching – I know young people particularly are excited to watch this – and I guess if I can give them an insight, [and if ] that might help them feel comfortable within themselves or feel confident to pursue sport or any endeavour the way I do, then I would be happy about that.”
Harris, whose sporting prowess extends to the boxing ring where she holds two weight division titles as an Australian Champion, doesn’t come across as someone who courts controversy, but it sure does seem to know where to find her. At a time when AFLW was still in its infancy, a single photo frame showing the extraordinary athleticism of the then-Carlton forward thrust her into the spotlight – but not for the reasons it should have.
Creeps, trolls, weirdos and haters armed themselves with their keyboards and launched vitriol and abuse at her. It was shocking and while people, perhaps with good intentions, sought to protect her by removing the photo from websites and shielding her, Harris decided to tackle it
the way she knows best – head-on.
She posted it to her Twitter account, captioning it: “Here’s a pic of me at work … think about this before your derogatory comments, animals.”
Looking back, she sees that time as a catalyst; she was able to force a reckoning while having the right people behind her to stand in the eye of the storm.
“Without being happy that it happened, I’m glad it was me and not someone else in this situation, because it was clearly not pleasant, but it was something that I had the right support network around me that I was able to navigate through,” she says.
“I was mentally able to take it on and speak on behalf of a lot of people who are affected by these sorts of things, but the reality is this could have happened to someone else who wouldn’t have been in a space to be able to handle it. That’s something that comes to mind that I would feel awful about.”
For Harris, being in the public glare means she can shine a light on issues close to her heart – women in sport, safety in the workplace (yes, playing sport is a workplace), online trolling. And although she is in many ways an accidental spokesperson – she never asked for the job – she takes the role and the responsibility very seriously.
“From the moment I realised that was
“This is not about adjusting opinions” HARRIS
the role that I’d been thrust into … I either had to go with it or, I guess, get left behind. I know that my responsibility as a role model goes beyond just on the field or in the boxing ring, so there are little things that I do. For example, I don’t post on my social media swearing or drinking or doing anything that I would want a young person to do.”
She also finds the balance between what she shares and what she keeps private, and while the documentary features her partner, fellow AFLW player Kodi Jacques, Harris is reluctant to talk much about their relationship.
“Having people around you who genuinely support you is something that I feel very fortunate to have,” she says.
“I know it’s not necessarily something that’s automatic or that everybody has, so I feel privileged that I have the people around me that I do. I couldn’t be more grateful for the way that I have a genuine supportive network of loved ones.”
Up the top of that list are her parents Warren and Lisa Harris, whom she missed desperately when she was locked down in Melbourne while they were in Brisbane, and her struggle during COVID is laid bare in the documentary.
Despite her ups and downs, the freshfaced, tattoo-clad Harris seems relentlessly optimistic. On weekends, when she’s not on the footy field, she works as a marriage celebrant, something she loves doing. “It’s a really nice thing to be a part of and I take it as a big responsibility.”
If she hasn’t got it all just yet, Harris certainly seems to be on her way – a feeling she hopes others can share.
“One thing that I really hope comes out of this documentary is that someone watches it and then all of a sudden has the confidence to be themselves and to feel confident and comfortable in their own skin and to do whatever they love,” she says.
“I would like people to understand that you can do and have everything if you are truly comfortable with yourself.”
(Kick Like Tayla is streaming on Prime Video)