Tayla Harris: Age, Partner, AFLW and Boxing Career

Few athletes manage to excel in two demanding sports at the highest level. Tayla Harris has done just that — a four-time All-Australian in the AFLW and an undefeated professional boxer. Her career spans two codes, a high-profile online controversy, and a growing role as a voice for gender equality. This article breaks down what we know about her age, partner, salaries, career milestones, and the broader impact she’s had on Australian sport.

Age: 27 (born 16 April 1997) ·
Sport: Australian rules football, professional boxing ·
All-Australian selections: 4 ·
AFLW clubs: Brisbane, Carlton, Melbourne ·
Instagram followers: 117,000+

Six key facts about Tayla Harris, one pattern: a dual-career athlete who has achieved elite recognition in both football and boxing before turning 30.

Here are the verified metrics that frame her career.

Who is Tayla Harris’ partner?

Is Tayla Harris married?

• Harris has not publicly disclosed a marriage or engagement. A 2022 profile in The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet) noted that she trains at home with her partner, fellow AFLW player Kodi Jacques, but the pair have not confirmed their relationship status publicly.

Does Tayla Harris have a boyfriend?

• The same SMH report identified Kodi Jacques as her partner. Jacques also plays in the AFLW, for St Kilda. However, neither athlete has posted directly about the relationship on social media, keeping details private.

The implication: Tayla Harris keeps her personal life mostly offline, a deliberate boundary given her high public profile.

Does Tayla Harris still play football?

What AFLW team does Tayla Harris play for?

• As of the 2024–25 season, Harris plays for Melbourne Football Club in the AFLW. She was traded from Carlton in 2020, as recorded by Carlton FC’s historical roster. Her move to Melbourne was widely covered in Australian sports media, though no single source in our research specifically tracks the trade — the exact transaction details are reportedly standard AFLW transfer procedure.

How many seasons has Tayla Harris played?

• Harris debuted in the inaugural AFLW season (2016–17) for Brisbane. She has played eight consecutive seasons, across Brisbane (2016–17), Carlton (2018–2020), and Melbourne (2021–present). She was Carlton’s leading goalkicker in 2018, 2019 and 2020 (Carlton FC).

The pattern: Harris has been a perennially elite forward, earning All-Australian honours in four of her first six seasons.

How much does Tayla Harris get paid?

What is the average AFLW salary?

• The AFLW pay scale is publicly available: players earn between $20,000 and $40,000 per season under the current collective bargaining agreement. Top-tier players like Harris, who have marquee status and endorsements, likely earn at the upper end or beyond, but exact figures are not published.

Does Tayla Harris earn from boxing?

• Yes, Harris earns income from professional boxing bouts and sponsorship. Boxing purses for emerging female fighters in Australia typically range from $5,000 to $20,000 per fight, but headline bouts can pay more. She also has endorsement deals, including with NC Management (sports management firm).

The catch: Without a net worth disclosure, fans can only estimate — her combined income from AFLW salary, boxing purses, and endorsements likely places her in the six-figure range annually, well above the average AFLW players but still modest compared to male AFL stars.

What is Tayla Harris known for?

Why is Tayla Harris famous?

• Harris is famous for three overlapping achievements: being a four-time All-Australian in the AFLW, an undefeated professional boxer, and the subject of a 2019 photograph that provoked a nationwide conversation about online sexism in sport.

What is the ‘Tayla Harris kick’ photo?

• In 2019, a News Corp photographer captured Harris kicking a goal during an AFLW match. The image was posted on the newspaper’s Facebook page, where it was flooded with sexist comments. Harris responded by calling out the abuse, and the incident became a media flashpoint. She later became the face of The Line, a government-backed campaign against gender-based violence and harassment (NC Management).

The takeaway: The photo controversy transformed Harris from a sports star into a cultural figure. She used the platform to advocate for respect toward female athletes, a stance that continues to define her public identity.

How old is Tayla Harris?

What is Tayla Harris’s date of birth?

• Born 16 April 1997, confirmed by Carlton FC’s official player page.

When is Tayla Harris’s birthday?

• 16 April. She turned 27 in 2024.

For comparison, the average AFLW player age is around 25, and most elite boxers peak in their late 20s to early 30s. Harris is in the sweet spot for both sports.

Tayla Harris has built a career that few athletes can claim — elite in two sports, a cultural catalyst, and a voice for change. For young female athletes in Australia, the implication is clear: you can pursue multiple dreams without apology, but the public scrutiny will be intense. The trade-off between privacy and platform is one Harris navigates daily, and her next moves — whether a world boxing title or another AFLW premiership push — will define the next chapter of a remarkable story.