Prime Minister Scott Morrison has given online trolls a kicking for sexist abuse of AFLW star Tayla Harris, lashing them as shameful cowards who target women.
A photo of Carlton player Harris kicking a goal attracted vile comments online prompting Channel Seven to remove the photo before later apologising for giving in to trolls.
Mr Morrison tackled the trolling head-on, saying it was horrible anonymous abuse tended to target women on social media.
"I think that's a shameful indictment on the grubs who get on there," he told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.
"Would they say it to our face? No, they haven't got the guts to do that. They're cowards. They're weak.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"They are acting out some sort of hatred in a way which really just lessens them as people and they just need to wake up to themselves."
The prime minister said trolls needed to be treated as the "cowardly grubs" they are and shown no mercy.
He said the image displaying Harris's athleticism was a "cracker" photo.

