Morrison shirtfronts AFLW online trolling

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has given online trolls a kicking for sexist abuse of AFLW star Tayla Harris, lashing them as shameful cowards who target women.

A photo of Carlton player Harris kicking a goal attracted vile comments online prompting Channel Seven to remove the photo before later apologising for giving in to trolls.

Mr Morrison tackled the trolling head-on, saying it was horrible anonymous abuse tended to target women on social media.

"I think that's a shameful indictment on the grubs who get on there," he told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.

"Would they say it to our face? No, they haven't got the guts to do that. They're cowards. They're weak.

"They are acting out some sort of hatred in a way which really just lessens them as people and they just need to wake up to themselves."

The prime minister said trolls needed to be treated as the "cowardly grubs" they are and shown no mercy.

He said the image displaying Harris's athleticism was a "cracker" photo.