Famous photo

The photograph of Tayla Harris which attracted abuse from trolls on social media is set to be used at the forefront of AFLW’s marketing efforts as soon as this week.

While the image was initially catapulted into the public spotlight for all the wrong reasons, AFLW boss Nicole Livingstone told the Sydney Morning Herald the league was determined to harness the positive momentum behind it.

After the Seven Network’s dedicated AFL social media channels took the photo down on Tuesday night in response to a flood of ‘‘inappropriate and offensive’’ comments made about Harris, other users – among them Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield and champion Olympic cyclist Anna Meares – reposted it in solidarity.

Seven eventually apologised for having ‘‘sent the wrong message’’ and put it back up, but the controversy has inadvertently turned the picture into a symbol of deep significance for AFLW and women’s sport more generally. Dozens of Twitter users suggested it should become the new logo of AFLW, in the same way a silhouette of Jerry West is used in the NBA’s logo.

Livingstone has seen some of the mock-ups and while she admires the creativity of those behind them, a change of logo does not appear to be on the cards.

But that doesn’t mean the photo won’t be everywhere, particularly with Harris’ Carlton still in AFLW premiership contention.

‘‘We’re pretty bedded in and invested in our logo. However, I know this photo is going to become an iconic part of AFLW history,’’ Livingstone said.

‘‘I’m sure we will consider how we utilise it in the future . . . or even sooner than that. If they make it through to the grand final, we have a series of images that we could end up using.

‘‘The image is something I think represents everything we try to encapsulate about AFLW –