A famous photo that started a national conversation about attitudes to women and changed perceptions of the AFLW has become the first to win the top prize at the Quill Awards for Excellence in Victorian Journalism.

Key points: Michael Willson's photograph was the first piece of photojournalism to win the Gold Quill

Michael Willson's photograph was the first piece of photojournalism to win the Gold Quill The award's judges said it was a "photo for the ages"

The award's judges said it was a "photo for the ages" Willson said he had no idea when he took the photo that it would create such a storm

Michael Willson, of AFL Media, was presented with the Gold Quill at a ceremony for Victoria's premier media awards in Melbourne last night for his photograph The Kick of AFLW player Tayla Harris.

Willson's photo captures Harris kicking the opening goal for Carlton during a match last year against the Western Bulldogs.

It was posted on the Seven Network's social media accounts, where it was swamped by misogynistic online comments.

The network deleted the image, but then re-posted it with an apology, after a torrent of protest.

It was subsequently published around the world and even turned into a bronze statue.

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The award's judges said it was "a photo for the ages" that would be long remembered.

"[It was] one that turned the tide of public commentary on women's football, women in sport generally, and attitudes to women across society," they said.

"This high-quality image froze forever this emblematic moment and triggered a national conversation that would otherwise never have happened."

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While accepting the award, Willson said that when he clicked the shutter that day, he did not imagine that the resulting image would have such an impact.

"When I first took this photograph, I actually just thought it was an amazing picture of an elite female athlete playing our great game and thought nothing more of it," he said.

"It went on to define so much more. It started conversations that were probably well overdue.

The famous kick of AFLW player Tayla Harris has been immortalised in a bronze statue. ( AAP: David Crosling )

"It highlighted online bullying and the stand we had to make against it [and] for this image to be a symbol of that is really so humbling and I'm really just overwhelmed to win this."

Established by the Melbourne Press Club in 1995 with 10 awards, the Quill Awards for Excellence in Victorian Journalism now celebrate the best work in over 30 categories across all media.

The Gold Quill comes with a $7,500 prize.

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The ABC's Anne Connolly was named the Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year for her reporting which triggered the royal commission into aged care.

Among other ABC journalists to win awards were Andy Burns and Geoff Thompson who received the Grant Hattam Quill for investigative journalism.

Rachael Brown and Josie Taylor were recognised for their exclusive interview with Nicola Gobbo while Amy Bainbridge won a gong for her radio expose of unethical sales practices by Telstra.