Port Adelaide champion Kane Cornes has criticized the AFLW for allowing marquee player Tayla Harris to participate in professional boxing on the eve of season eight.
Harris, who plays for Melbourne, boxed against Millicent Agboegbulen in the Australian super welterweight title, with the 26-year-old going down to the Nigerian.
She also copped a brutal knock to the face, which caused a swollen eye, but was cleared of serious damage.
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Cornes raised concerns about Harris’ health up against the AFL and AFLW’s concussion protocols, considering how much weight they have placed on head knocks.
“I’m having a dig at the AFLW and Tayla Harris after I saw her face get smashed up on Wednesday night. I think it’s a terrible look for the AFLW if they want to be taken seriously,” he said on SEN.
“It’s six weeks out from round one starting, it’s the middle of pre-season training (now) and you’re allowing one of your star marquee players to go and jump in the ring ahead of the season … and it was pretty confronting how badly she was banged up.”
The Port Adelaide premiership player also questioned where Harris stands, urging her to take some responsibility.
“Would they allow that to happen for an AFL player?” Cornes asked.
“What are you, are you a professional footballer and a marquee player at Melbourne? Where you’re highly paid, we know all of that. Or are you a boxer?”
The opening round of the AFLW season starts on Friday September 1, with reigning premiers Melbourne facing Collingwood at IKON Park.
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