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read moreOnline trolling of AFL Womens playler Tayla Harris in response to a picture of her taken during a match has been compared to "sexual abuse".
Harris was targeted with derogatory comments underneath a picture of her playing for the Carlton Blues that was posted on social media.
AFL writer Sarah Black told the Credit to the Girls podcast “it's abhorrent and disgusting, and it's constant.
"Some (comments) were harassment, some were just blatant misogyny."
Harris, who was pictured playing in her side's win over the Western Bulldogs, called on the AFL and the police to take action, saying it could be the start of "domestic violence and abuse".
Harris said on Instagram “my hamstring is OK but derogatory and sexist comments aren't."
On Twitter she likened the trolls to "animals”.
A number of Australian sportswomen supported Harris, including Carlton team-mate Darcy Vescio, former world champion netballer-turned-AFL player Sharni Layton and former Olympic cycling champion Anna Meares.
Layton stated "I'm furious. I'm so proud of Tay for standing up. Enough is enough of this trolling. AFL, I'm asking you to stand up and not stand for this anymore."
The controversy has also raised the issue of how media companies moderate comments after Channel Seven deleted the picture in an effort to combat the trolling. The company reposted the photo after a backlash.
Seven, an AFL broadcast partner, apologised to Harris, saying the decision to remove the image from its Facebook and Twitter accounts "sent the wrong message", after initially defending the move.
The broadcaster says its intention was to "highlight" Harris' "incredible athleticism" and that they will "continue to celebrate women's footy".
AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan called the abuse "unacceptable" but said the fault does not rest entirely on Channel Seven, given the challenges of moderating social media comments.
McLachlan added “these things happen, people do their best to monitor them and in the end, the self-regulation that's going on and accountability I think is what needs to happen.
"It's an amazing photo and that's the overwhelming consensus ... a great athlete at her most powerful, doing what she does."
19th March 2019 - Helen Clark named global Patron for International Working Group on Women and Sport
15th March 2019 - Sydney swim teacher charged over sexual abuse of young girls
7th March 2019 - SportAccord event to focus on women in sport
8th February 2019 - Sport Australia’s Kate Palmer says now is the time to stop talking about ‘women’s sport’
21st December 2018 - AFLW to expand to 14 teams in 2020 but warned ‘hard work’ needed for successful expansion
18th October 2018 - Women Sport Australia announce ‘world beating’ sportswomen
27th September 2017 - AFLW confirm further expansion plans over next two years
23rd February 2017 - AWRA to trade as Women Sport Australia
28th October 2014 - Women are ‘second class citizens’ in sport governance and management
8th July 2014 - Child sexual abuse Royal Commission shifts inquiry to swimming coaches
21st August 2013 - AWRA call for Government backing to promote more female leaders in sport
29th September 2011 - AWRA condemns plans for ‘lingerie football’
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