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Tayla Harris has put a tough week behind her to help Carlton reach their first AFLW grand final with a thumping upset win over Fremantle.
Carlton AFLW star Tayla Harris has delivered another timely kick at the online trolls.
Harris was one of the Blues' best on Saturday as they upset Fremantle by six goals to reach their first grand final.
The key forward kicked Carlton's first goal in the 9.10 (64) to 4.4 (28) demolition at Ikon Park and she wreaked havoc with her fierce crashing of the packs.
After they finished bottom last season, the Blues will remarkably now meet the winner of Sunday's Adelaide-Geelong preliminary final in next weekend's premiership decider.
Harris's performance had extra meaning after the week's tumultuous events.
A dramatic action photo of Harris in mid-kick attracted a torrent of vile comments when it was posted online.
That prompted an even stronger reaction, with Harris leading the way.
Prominent AFL and AFLW figures rallied behind Harris and she fronted a media conference mid-week to hit back at the abuse.
She promptly backed that up with one of the best games of her AFLW career.
It was a powerful performance on and off the field, particularly given Harris is just 21.
"There was really no other option in my mind but to try and play as well as I could," she said.
"I do understand what I'm doing and I'm creating something big."
Harris and coach Daniel Harford fronted a post-game media conference and regularly cracked jokes, reflecting Carlton's jubilation.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison had offered his support to Harris and she called him "Scomo" and "Scomes".
"Adults even Harf's age are getting on board ... it's much bigger than I thought," she joked.
Ageism aside, Harford was full of respect for Harris and said her efforts this week had been "extraordinary".
That also summed up Carlton, who are now riding a wave and will take a power of beating in the grand final.
"We've clearly had our moment Tay - we're just a Conference B crap team that can't play," Harford said of the controversy around the league's new ladder system.
"But we know we're a good team and people underestimate us all the way through, and that's fine."
"I don't think whoever we play will, now, on the back of what's happened today and good luck to them if they do."
Without aptain Kara Donnellan, a late withdrawal, Fremantle were on the back foot from the start, unable to withstand Carlton's fierce physical pressure.
A succession of Dockers were forced off through injury and coach Trent Cooper said he wondered if they could have fielded a team for the grand final, if they had beaten Carlton.
Lauren Brazzale and Maddy Prespakis were best for the Blues, while Kiara Bowers recovered from a slow start to headline a disappointing Dockers performance.
Blues defender Kerryn Harrington, also among their best, suffered a shoulder injury in the last quarter, but Harford was hopeful she would be ready for the grand final.
