Harris was born and raised in Brisbane's northern suburbs and began playing competitive football for Aspley at age five. She played in a mixed competition with young girls and boys until 2010. At the age of 15, she began playing senior football for Zillmere in the AFL Queensland Women's League, where she won the league best and fairest award in her first season. In 2017, following a move to Melbourne, she began playing in the VFL Women's competition with the St Kilda Sharks. She represented Queensland in the youth girls competition, and is a five time All-Australian. At the age of 17, she was drafted to the representative side as part of the AFL women's exhibition series. She continued to play for the club through 2016. She also played as part of the ' representative team in 2016. She attended primary school at Prince of Peace Lutheran College and high school at Albany Creek State High School.
AFL Women's career
Harris was one of two marquee player signings announced by in anticipation of the league's inaugural 2017 season. She made her league debut in the club's inaugural match, in round 1, 2017, against at Casey Fields. In round 2, she was nominated for the league Rising Star award for a two-goal, twelve disposal and seven mark performance against, and also was named "Player of the Week" by the AFL Players Association. At the conclusion of two rounds she was ranked equal fourth in the league for total goals scored and first in the league for contested marks. At the end of the season, Harris was listed in the 2017 All-Australian team. Prior to the 2017 AFLW trade period, Harris expressed her desire to be traded to a Victorian club. The trade period started on 15 May. Early talks between Brisbane and faltered; although Carlton offered Bianca Jakobsson in trade, Brisbane wanted an additional player. also made an offer for Harris. On 25 May 2017, Harris was traded to in a complex trade involving four teams, five players and a draft pick. She played six matches with her new club in 2018 and kicked five goals, tying Darcy Vescio and sharing the club's leading goalkicker award with her.
Boxing career
Professional boxing record
Online harassment
A picture taken by AFL Media photographer Michael Willson showing Harris kicking for goal during a 2019 match against the Western Bulldogs became the target of sexual Internet trolling after it was posted on social media by Seven Network. Harris re-tweeted the photograph with the caption: "Here’s a pic of me at work... think about this before your derogatory comments, animals". Critics of the trolls included fellow AFLW players Erin Phillips and Darcy Vescio, Geelong player Patrick Dangerfield, cyclist Anna Meares, AFLW head of football Nicole Livingstone and Australian Football Leaguechief executiveGillon McLachlan, and federal minister for women Kelly O'Dwyer. Phillips, Vescio, Meares and O'Dwyer joined the chorus of people condemning Seven's decision to remove the photo, which was perceived as yielding to the trolls. It was later reinstated with an apology. On 11 September 2019, a bronze statue immortalising the image was unveiled in Federation Square Melbourne. On 27 February 2020, Tayla Harris was announced as an ambassador for Our Watch - an organisation tasked with preventing violence against women and their children. https://www.ourwatch.org.au/resource/our-watch-welcomes-sporting-heavyweights-tayla-harris-and-tiffany-cherry-as-ambassadors
Personal life
Harris lives in Melbourne with her partner Sarah and dogs Charlie, Oscar and Beans.
