Tayla Harris has officially joined her third AFLW club after Melbourne sealed a trade for the high-profile forward.
The Demons secured the wantaway Carlton forward via a three-way trade with GWS that saw classy midfielder Jess Dal Pos join the Blues – Chloe Dalton and Katie Loynes head north to the Giants.
Harris, 24, and Carlton parted ways after the Blues baulked at her contract demands for next season – reported to be $150,000.
The move sees Harris’ AFLW career effectively come full circle.
“I am really excited to be part of such a great club with a talented group of girls, all pushing to be their best,” Harris said.
“I can already tell this will be a great environment for me to be the best version of myself.”
The Queenslander made a name for herself as a raw, high-flying forward as a teenager for Melbourne in the 2014 exhibition match – almost three years before she became one of Brisbane’s first marquee players.
She also attracted attention for her spectacular kicking style at the time.
Once her AFLW career kicked off, Harris became a three-time All-Australian and arguably the best contested mark in the competition.
But she became the most high-profile player in the league in 2019, skyrocketing into cultural significance on the back of a photograph of her kicking for goal, while she is also building a promising boxing career.
The 2021 season was Harris’ worst in the AFLW but Dees skipper Daisy Pearce last week threw her support behind the 24-year-old, telling SEN she’d be “excited” to play alongside her again.
Harris will add serious marking power and athleticism to a Melbourne forward line already boasting Kate Hore, Shelley Scott, Tegan Cunningham, Alyssa Bannan and Eden Zanker.
Midfielder Olivia Purcell will join Harris at the Demons.
Purcell, 20, was taken by Geelong at pick No.14 in the 2018 draft and played in their first two AFLW seasons – winning the Cats’ best and fairest in 2020.
She is recovering from an ACL injury suffered in Geelong’s loss to Richmond on February 27.
The Cats have secured 2019 Adelaide premiership forward Chloe Scheer, as well as Melbourne’s Chantel Emonson, in return.
Victorian midfielder Dal Pos, 27, spent four years at GWS and was All-Australian and the Giants’ best-and-fairest winner in 2017.
Dual-code athlete Dalton took this season off to focus on her Rugby Sevens career ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and returns home to Sydney, while former Blues co-captain Loynes will continue her career at GWS.
berrlins
Roar Pro
From an on field perspective, this isn't the biggest loss, she didn't have the best year, and is always a little hit or miss. But off field from a marketing point of view she's a great get for the Demons. They now have Daisy Pierce and Taylor Harris on their list, both of them high profile, Taylor will bring a fair few supporters to the club (I know it isn't everything but she has more instagram followers than all of the clubs in the league and more than most of the Melbourne clubs combined). She has some reach in the media world and is worth investing in, not only for the Demons but for the AFLW.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Only ave 6 disposals a game. Not great but I Wish they played 20 min quarters to have more of a crack. The game just gets going and it's break time. Then it's all over in no time.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
8 games - 48 disposals, 16 marks and 4 goals 2 behinds. Based on those stats for a CHF certainly not a great loss.
Diesel-747
Roar Rookie
Fevola was sacked - Judd was the instigator.
Diesel-747
Roar Rookie
How many goals this yr did she snag?
Clear as mud
Guest
Yes Dal Pos will be a huge loss to the Giants both on and off the field
fractal pixie
Guest
I was hoping Geelong would pick her up. At the moment Melbourne (until Hawthorn join) is my least favorite club in the AFLW, so I am disappointed she will be playing for them. I agree you should have kept her. Dal Pos is a good player though.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
It isn't for the AFLW.
coastyboi
Guest
Her public relations and marketability persona is worth beyond a measly $150,000. This is chump change for Aussie Rules.
Macca
Roar Rookie
I think there is a bit off field involved here as well, I keep hearing rumours she wasn't that popular with her team mates and wasn't working hard enough. The way the ball is moved in AFLW losing a big forward isn't that much of a worry.
true blue
Guest
I think this will come back to haunt us. This reminds me of when we got rid of Fevola. We should never have let Harris walk. Granted she didn't have a good season, but we all know how talented she is.