AFLW star Tayla Harris statue unveiled in Fed Square

Tayla Harris is up in bronze whether the trolls like it or not.

VIDEO ABOVE: HOW CHANNEL 7 DEALS WITH TROLLS - OUR COMEDY TEAM TAKES A LOOK

A statue of Tayla Harris -- based on the now iconic photo of the professional boxer and AFLW player known as ‘The Kick’ -- has been unveiled in Federation Square. 

The statue will be on display there until a permanent position is decided.

'The Kick' photograph of AFLW player Tayla Harris scoring a goal alongside the statue revealed today in Federation Square, Melbourne Source: Getty Images

‘The Kick’ was written into AFLW history in March this year when Channel Seven removed the photo from it’s social media account after it was subjected to sexualised online trolling. At the time of publishing this article 7AFL is yet to report on the statue.

Harris clapped back by tweeting out the photo with the caption: “Here’s a pic of me at work… think about this before your derogatory comments, animals.”

Channel Seven subsequently reinstated the photo and apologised.

Speaking to Channel Nine’s Today Show from Fed Square this morning Harris said:

“I don’t often comply with tradition, so as you say it is very like me to buck the trend - it is an honour and it’s very humbling and very exciting as well.”

But the trolls are back in force, some calling into question the legitimacy of the statue.

Others argued that there were other AFLW players more deserving of the honour.

Source: Reddit

But Harris was there to remind the haters: “It’s not only footy, it’s a social issue that I pushed forward and I’m happy to say that it will continue now and anyone that walks past will remember hopefully why that’s there and they will feel empowered or perhaps even feel confident enough to start their own conversation which i think is important,” she said on Today.

And the support is pouring in too:

Source: Reddit

Harris herself mostly seemed glad that the statue didn’t end up like the Cristiano Ronaldo bust unveiled in 2017 at the Madeira airport.

Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo stands beside a bust presented during a ceremony to rename Madeira's airport in Funchal. Source: AFP

“I’m still only twenty two and just trying to do the right thing where I can and that’s still all I really want to do - is do what’s right and I only have one chance really; to be in the position that I’m in and I think I have to make the most of it.”

We reached out to Carlton FC and Tayla Harris for comment but they had not responded at the time of publishing.

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