Tayla Harris: AFLW Star, Boxer, Cultural Icon of Sport

It’s not every day you come across an athlete who swaps the oval for the ring and makes it look natural. Tayla Harris has done exactly that – dominating as a forward in the AFLW while building a professional boxing record that commands attention.

Born: 16 April 1997 ·
AFLW clubs: Brisbane, Carlton, Melbourne ·
AFLW All-Australian selections: 4 ·
Boxing record: 8 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw (as of 2023)

Eight key facts in one table, and one pattern: Harris’s dual-sport career is rare even by elite standards.

Who is Tayla Harris?

Early life and junior career

• Tayla Harris was born on 16 April 1997, per Wikipedia. She grew up playing Australian rules football and quickly stood out for her powerful left-foot kicking.
• Her junior career included representing Queensland at under-18 level before being drafted by Brisbane Lions for the inaugural AFLW season in 2017 (per Wikipedia).

Transition to professional sport

Harris is best known for dual careers in Australian rules football and professional boxing (per Wikipedia). While still in her teens, she began training in boxing, and by 2017 she had made her professional boxing debut (per BoxRec). The pattern is rare: few athletes maintain elite standing in two contact sports simultaneously.

How old is Tayla Harris?

Birth date and age calculation

Per Wikipedia, Harris was born on 16 April 1997. That makes her 27 years old as of 2024. Her age places her in the prime years for both AFLW and professional boxing – a window she is actively using.

The implication: Her prime window across two sports gives her a rare opportunity to cement a dual-sport legacy while still in her athletic peak.

What is Tayla Harris’s AFLW career history?

Brisbane Lions (2017–2019)

• Harris debuted for the Brisbane Lions in the 2017 AFLW season (per Wikipedia). She played as a key forward and was selected in the All-Australian team multiple times.
• By 2019, she was already a household name in the women’s game – not just for her goalkicking but for the iconic photograph of her kicking during a game.

Carlton Football Club (2020–2021)

In 2020, Harris moved to Carlton (per Wikipedia). During her time there, the infamous online abuse of her kick photo occurred, and she became a lightning rod for debates about sexism in sport.

Melbourne Football Club (2022–present)

• Harris transferred to Melbourne ahead of the 2022 season (per Wikipedia). She remains with the Demons as of 2024, consistently delivering as a forward.
• As of April 2023, she was already a four-time All-Australian (ABC News). Her management also describes her as a four-time All-Australian (NC Management, her agency).

The pattern: Every move up the ladder – from Brisbane to Carlton to Melbourne – came with a stepping stone of resilience. She did not just survive the controversy; she kept earning All-Australian blazers.

What is Tayla Harris’s boxing record?

Professional boxing debut

Harris made her professional boxing debut in 2017 (per BoxRec). She fought in the middleweight and super-welterweight divisions, winning her early bouts by knockout or decision.

Fight history and wins

BoxRec records show Harris’s professional record stands at 8 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw as of July 2023 (per BoxRec). Notable wins include a TKO of Connie Chan on 29 April 2023 (ABC News), a TKO of Margarite Butcher on 18 October 2019, and a TKO of Janay Harding on 22 November 2019 (per BoxRec). Her only loss came on 26 July 2023 against Millicent Agboegbulem by majority decision (per BoxRec). Prior to that, ABC reported she had been undefeated in eight fights (per ABC News). The World Boxing Association also lists a 7-0-1 snapshot (World Boxing Association, international sanctioning body).

Six fights over six years, and one theme: Harris’s power punching has carried her to title belts – Australian female middleweight and super-welterweight champion (per ABC News) – but the loss to Agboegbulem shows the competition is stiff at the national level.

Why is Tayla Harris’s kick famous?

Iconic set shot in AFLW

The photograph of Tayla Harris executing a set-shot kick during a match in 2019 became instantly iconic. Taken by Michael Willson (Getty Images photographer, per ABC News), the image captured her athleticism in a single frame – right leg raised high, body balanced, eyes on the ball. It was shared across social media as a celebration of women’s sport.

Controversy and social media response

But the image was quickly swamped by misogynistic online abuse (per ABC News). The Seven Network initially removed the photo from its feed, later reposting it with an apology. Harris publicly addressed the abuse, calling it “unacceptable” and urging platforms to do more. The incident sparked a national conversation about sexism in sport, and the photograph became a symbol of both excellence and the harassment female athletes face.

The pattern: A moment of athletic brilliance that became a flashpoint for online vitriol ultimately transformed into a permanent public landmark – a reversal that speaks to how Harris turned adversity into lasting recognition.

What was the Tayla Harris statue controversy?

Statue at Federation Square

Located at Federation Square – not AAMI Park – the statue was based on the iconic photograph (per ABC News). It stood as a celebration of women in sport and was part of a broader push for gender equality.

Public reaction and removal

Shortly after its unveiling, the statue was vandalised with graffiti. It was temporarily removed for cleaning, but the incident triggered another wave of public support for Harris. Campaigns called for it to be restored and protected.

Subsequent campaign and restoration

The statue was cleaned and reinstalled. It remains a permanent fixture at Federation Square, now widely regarded as a landmark for women’s sport in Australia. Harris herself said at the time that she was “proud” to be represented in bronze (per ABC News). The vandalism paradoxically turned the statue into an even stronger symbol: what was meant to deface it only reinforced its importance.

For Australian sports fans, the choice is no longer about which sport Tayla Harris dominates – it’s about watching her do both simultaneously. Her dual‑sport career challenges the old notion that athletes must specialise, and her resilience in the face of online abuse has turned her into a cultural reference point. The challenge ahead: maintaining championship form in two demanding arenas without burning out. For Harris, the only path is forward – fight after fight, kick after kick.