Incredible new twist in furore surrounding photo of female footy star
A photo of AFLW star Tayla Harris completing a stunning airborne kick has won the professional category at the inaugural Women in Sport Photo Action Awards.
The still image, taken by ALFW senior photographer Michael Willson, became a viral sensation after sparking a spirited defence of women in sport when Taylor was targeted by online trolls posting offensive comments.
Judge Louise Evans said the image perfectly captured the essence of women performing at the highest level and depicted an athlete executing "the perfect play."
Harris took a stand against online trolls in March after host AFL broadcaster Seven Network initially pulled down the image in response to the post attracting offensive comments.
Community outrage ensured the photo was reinstated and went viral as fans splashed it across homemade T-shirts and the women’s league embraced it as an unofficial logo.
The stunning shot of Harris in full flight was one of 15 photos in contention to claim the top gong.
The WSA photo awards are split into professional and amateur categories, with Australian Associated Press having the most entries (five) of any publisher for the main prize.
Top-ranked Australian tennis player Ashleigh Barty, Matildas stars Sam Kerr and Lisa Da Vanna also featured in the professional category.
“The images chosen to be #WISPAA finalists portray the finesse and fitness of Australia’s female athletes competing at all levels from club to the elite,” WSA communications director Louise Evans said in a statement.
“The images chosen to be #WISPAA finalists take you beyond the gender and the sport to the core of the athlete to reveal their power, skill, athleticism and passion.
“They are beautiful, inspirational, gutsy images.”
Incredible response
Harris succeeded in galvanising support for the causes of de-sexualising images of women in sport and reducing online abuse.
"If I can stand up here and say something about it and start the conversation ... if that helps one person or heaps of people, then that's what I want to do," Harris said in March.
Thousands of fans voiced their support for Harris in the same online forums previously populated by abusive men.
Kerr, fellow AFLW stars and even Prime Minister Scott Morrison backed Harris on social media and in spoken comments.
Champion cyclist Anna Meares called the image "incredible".
Premiership-winning Adelaide captain Erin Phillips led the support from around the league.
"There is a lot of trolls that get away with things that shouldn't be allowed," Phillips said.
"But in saying that, what a fantastic response from the community to get behind Tayla ... it has empowered her. And it has shown to the community, to Australia, that it's unacceptable to troll and put people down."
One fan went so far as to have the image tattooed on his right arm.
At a media conference, the prime minister called the abusers "cowardly grubs who need to wake up to themselves".