Tayla Harris just got immortalised with a Bronze Statue....

[The Old Dark Navy's]

It's so sad this has been hijacked by people on both sides of the political isle who are trying to politicise it.

Anyone who's for this statue isn't a "snowflake" "lefty". And anyone against it isn't a "misogynist" "right wing/conservative".

Personally, I can understand why it was made. Even though she probably isn't the most deserving of AFLW players to be immortalised in bronze, it's not like there are any other players that are much more deserving.

If only there was some sort of superhero-esque AFLW player that clearly stood head and shoulders above the rest of the competition, by say, winning a bunch of premierships whilst being BOG in all of them, on top of a couple of league MVP's or something. She would also need to be some kind of super dual athlete, that let's say represented Australia in another sport on the world stage where she brought home a Olympic silver medal or the like, or maybe something ridiculous like a world championship gold medal. Since we're fantasising, let's also imagine this superhero athlete had also gone to America and won a bunch of championships at the highest level of this other sport she played too. Let's also give this superhero female athlete some type of historic social activism type moment like Tayla Harris, just to guarantee being more deserving of being immortalised. Like say, being a gay athlete or something and then controversially kissing her girlfriend as she is collecting 1 of her historic AFLW MVP awards, to which the misogynist/homophobic trolls then come out in droves with their hate and abuse online thus cementing her as a courageous advocate and hero for the LGBT community and women in general.

Far fetched? I know. If only such a deserving athlete existed. But in the meantime I guess Tayla Harris can be immortalised in bronze, even though she hasn't come close to any type of individual or team triumph in AFLW.
Though I do fear in the future when all the drama around the photo has well and truly passed/been forgotten that many people will be scratching their heads as to why Tayla Harris is the first (and maybe only) AFLW player to be immortalised in bronze(without any individual or team success), ahead of other more deserving players, *cough* Erin Phillips.... , but it is what it is.

Off topic, I found this photo of some random AFLW player that looked eerily similar to the Tayla Harris photo,

Just thought it interesting that if only this woman was as good at footy as Tayla Harris, then maybe they could of made this photo into a statue instead.

And then if something occurred surrounding this 'ficticious' person, such as being disgustingly sexualised publically while playing her sport, at a time when society is trying to force such antiquated behaviour into the dustbin of history, forcing the entire AFL and AFLW community to loudly stand behind her, and immortalising a photo showing spectacular athleticism, which in turn inspires a private company to strike the moment in bronze.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Not to mention his line in the sand moment changed the way people viewed Aboriginal footballers, and Aborigines more generally. At the AFL level. Club level. Player level. And fan level.

I wonder if a single troll stopped trolling because trolls got told off for trolling Tayla?

Did you hear any other voices other than Tayla's at the time?

I wonder if any racists stop being racists because Winmar lifted his jumper? I'd say the conversation just brought these sentiments to the public eye.

 

[Present Not Past]

Imagine the outrage if Sydney ever decided to erect an statue of Adam Goodes ???

 

[NorthernBastard]

Some absolute muppets in this thread. I genuinely thought we'd progressed as a society over recent year, alas this proves the world is full of threatened little boys.

If you think this is about Tayla Harris or her football ability, you're an idiot.

If you can't recognise this as an image that will carry on for generations, you're also an idiot.

As others have said, it's players like Harris and the current generation that are leading the way for young girls of the future to be more accepted as footballers. You only have to read the comments on any online article to realise we're years away from true acceptance, and this image (now immortalised in bronze) is part of that process. The reaction it invoked was nothing short of huge, with young girls across the land proud to kick like a girl.

No doubt when Erin Phillips career is over there will be deserved recognition, likewise many other greats (male or female), but this is not about an individual and their achievements, this is bigger.

 

[peternorth]

'Missing the point': Tayla Harris statue sparks heated debate

A statue of female Aussie rules star Tayla Harris' iconic kick has proved a divisive topic for fans after its unveiling in Melbourne.

au.sports.yahoo.com

Just when you thought the left-wing media and do-gooders of this country couldn't go any further, they do. Remember that storm in a teacup earlier when Harris had a photo of herself kicking a football get trolled (most likely by teenagers) on social media? Well now apparently being a victim of online trolling is all it takes to be immortalised in a Bronze statue.

Correct me if im wrong, but Cathy Freeman doesn't have that recognition. Nor does worldwide Soccer star Sam Kerr who is in the top 3 best players on the planet. Theres a bunch of female athletes more deserving of having a Bronze statue erected as an honour.

But nah bugger those legends who represent our country on an international scale. Lets give this honour to a woman in a sub-standard competition that's barely being going for 2 years.

View attachment 744328

Its footy first here, you know that. world stage achievers may get a look in later

 

[B4Bear]

So many Andrew Bolt clones on here. BF never change.

 

[HairyO]

Did you hear any other voices other than Tayla's at the time?

I wonder if any racists stop being racists because Winmar lifted his jumper? I'd say the conversation just brought these sentiments to the public eye.

Racists? Probably not. But most people arent racist. Ignorant, for sure. plenty. Heaps. A huge amount.

To be honest I barely heard Tayla's voice, because it was so insignificant. Look at Dusty's Instagram if you want to see sexism.

 

[Bostonian]

They're still not at the fore.

At the fore of what?

Harris name/brand recognition far surpasses her actual football ability.

She's at an u/16 level of play but has the public status and earning power of someone far more talented.

That says she very much to the fore in relative terms.

 

[Monkey King]

Another piece of art for Fed Square, one of the ugliest public spaces in Melbourne, only marginally better than the Gas and Fuel towers they replaced (can anyone remember the name of the record store underground in that exit from Flinders Street station?). So long as they don’t move this to the MCG, where people are honoured for their sporting achievements, I don’t see the big deal.

 

[Bostonian]

And then if something occurred surrounding this 'ficticious' person, such as being disgustingly sexualised publically while playing her sport, at a time when society is trying to force such antiquated behaviour into the dustbin of history, forcing the entire AFL and AFLW community to loudly stand behind her, and immortalising a photo showing spectacular athleticism, which in turn inspires a private company to strike the moment in bronze.

It's funny when you use terms like antiquated.

What you're describing isn't antiquated, it's actually incredibly modern.

 

[Marc_Remillard]

And while the Righties are having ago at the Lefties for the statue, it is actually the Righties who made it happen.

My personal opinion is that the far righties are just as bad as the far lefties but the campaigners with the money are the ones who eventually win

 

[NorthernBastard]

Racists? Probably not. But most people arent racist. Ignorant, for sure. plenty. Heaps. A huge amount.

To be honest I barely heard Tayla's voice, because it was so insignificant. Look at Dusty's Instagram if you want to see sexism.

If you can't see the difference between sexism towards males and females then you're probably not worth replying to. I bet you're also convinced there's reverse racism against white people who boo Adam Goodes.

 

[Bostonian]

If you can't see the difference between sexism towards males and females then you're probably not worth replying to. I bet you're also convinced there's reverse racism against white people who boo Adam Goodes.

Reverse racism isn't a thing. Literally doesn't exist.

 

[Pessimistic]

Another piece of art for Fed Square, one of the ugliest public spaces in Melbourne, only marginally better than the Gas and Fuel towers they replaced (can anyone remember the name of the record store underground in that exit from Flinders Street station?). So long as they don’t move this to the MCG, where people are honoured for their sporting achievements, I don’t see the big deal.

The MCG statues are for 'Heros" actually at the MCG. One reason Winmars isnt there

 

[Ron The Bear]

That my friends is an opinion, despite its apparent confidence in its accuracy. Feel free to seek out facts and form your own opinion.

“I said, ‘do you want me to do the kick today?’ because I choose when to do it,” she explained before adding, “It’s quite unnecessary!”

“It would seem like it was just this one-off photo but I actually said and looked over at him [the photographer] and said, ‘Here we go!'”

Tayla Harris Admits That Her Goalkicking Image Was 'Staged'

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU SEE THIS PHOTO? WE THINK OF THE INCREDIBLE ATHLETICISM DISPLAYED BY AFLW PLAYER TAYLA HARRIS – AS WELL AS DAMN, WE WISH WE HAD THAT SKILL! After its release, Tayla received an onslaught of hateful and sexualised messages. This prompted 7AFL to delete the image from...

www.kiis1011.com.au

Staged. Fact.

 

[Bostonian]

Didn't happen to march in the straight pride parade, did you?

Why would that be relevant?

I pointed out a legend in women's sports from decades ago and your retort is "Didn't happen to march in the straight pride parade, did you?".

How warped is your mindset to get to that point?

 

[Teen Wolf]

If the final bronze statue is to be parked outside the MCG amongst the other statues, like many think it will, what will the plaque say?

In 40 years time when I'm taking my granddaughter to the footy, how will I explain her statue?

It's not going to be outside the MCG.

The plaque says "More Than a Kick".

Your granddaughter probably won't be the complete moron you apparently assume. Allow for the possibility that one day she might be explaining the statue to you, how about that.

 

[WA ROO]

Was Winmar the best footballer ever?

Was he the best Western Australian footballer?

Was he the best indigenous footballer?

Off topic but as a youngster Nicky played in a side with someone that is in the conversation for all 3 of those

 

[Obeanie1]

It happened quickly because a bank paid for it!!!

Fair enough. So its more about commercial gain and marketing than an actual pivotal moment in Australian sport. That makes sense.

 

[Pessimistic]

Some absolute muppets in this thread. I genuinely thought we'd progressed as a society over recent year, alas this proves the world is full of threatened little boys.

If you think this is about Tayla Harris or her football ability, you're an idiot.

If you can't recognise this as an image that will carry on for generations, you're also an idiot.

As others have said, it's players like Harris and the current generation that are leading the way for young girls of the future to be more accepted as footballers. You only have to read the comments on any online article to realise we're years away from true acceptance, and this image (now immortalised in bronze) is part of that process. The reaction it invoked was nothing short of huge, with young girls across the land proud to kick like a girl.

No doubt when Erin Phillips career is over there will be deserved recognition, likewise many other greats (male or female), but this is not about an individual and their achievements, this is bigger.

To be fair, the artwork was presented and reported as an indidvidual sportperson type statue. The organisers could have emphasised it isnt, but probably thought the controversy would be good publicity even though that diminishes the thoughts it probably trying to convey (its artistic merit if you like)

 

[Ron The Bear]

(can anyone remember the name of the record store underground in that exit from Flinders Street station?)

Central Station Records & Tapes

 

[Obeanie1]

Reverse racism isn't a thing. Literally doesn't exist.

Yes it does.

 

[HairyO]

If you can't see the difference between sexism towards males and females then you're probably not worth replying to. I bet you're also convinced there's reverse racism against white people who boo Adam Goodes.

So sexism towards men isnt important?

We have to protect women because they are weaker?

 

[Bostonian]

Yes it does.

Ahhh no it doesn't.

Racism is racism. Anyone can be racist. The end.

 

[Marc_Remillard]

If you can't see the difference between sexism towards males and females then you're probably not worth replying to. I bet you're also convinced there's reverse racism against white people who boo Adam Goodes.

Reverse racism?

That's hilarious, here's another triggered one who needs the calm-down corner