Fourteen months ago, Lara Wall’s feet were firmly under the desk.
The structural engineer was head down and focused on her career while suiting up for Cashmere Technical and Canterbury United Pride in her spare time.
Then came a whirlwind trial with the Wellington Phoenix, leading Wall to pack up her life and head to the capital after securing her first professional contract.
She came off the bench in the Phoenix’s opening three games of the 2024-25 season before making the left back spot her own and starting in the next 20 games.
Wall was a standout in her debut season — playing the entire 90 minutes in 19 of her starts — and even caught the eye of astute football commentator Jason Pine, who posted on X in January that Wall was a "terrific addition".
The former Dunedin footballer’s form caught the attention of another important figure — Football Ferns coach Michael Mayne.
That led to Wall being called in as a replacement for the national team for the first time last month.
"The last year and a bit has been pretty crazy," Wall said.
"To think a year and a bit, a month ago, I was working fulltime, just playing football on the weekends in Christchurch, and after work, and now to think I get to do it as my job and I go away with the national team is pretty cool."
It was a debut to remember, coming off the bench at halftime for the Football Ferns in their 6-0 loss to the United States in Kansas City last month.
She played 45 minutes against the Olympic champions during the Ferns’ North America tour.
The Ferns played two earlier games against Mexico.
"I did not expect to get on for a whole half — let alone for a whole half against the US.
"But the coach, Mayney, did say he wanted to give out caps that had more minutes . . . actually have players gain experience through those caps.
"He definitely followed through with his plan of doing that — I mean, going on at halftime against a team like the US is probably the best experience you can get."
"I still think I am in a little bit of shock that it all happened.
"It feels like a bit of a whirlwind. It happened so fast and then when I came back it was straight into the Phoenix season, so I kind of just switched my concentration back on to playing Nix."
Wall, 25, grew up in Dunedin and attended Queen’s High School, where she was head girl and dux in her final year in 2018.
She played for the former Dunedin Technical club, which won the Kate Sheppard Cup in her final season, and spent five seasons playing for Southern United, before moving to Christchurch for university in 2019.
Southern had something of a breakout season in 2017, which led to Elise Mamanu-Gray’s call-up to the Ferns tour of Thailand.
The midfielder is believed to be the last Dunedin local to be part of the Ferns environment before Wall.
"I remember in that season when I was 17 really looking up to her and she was really cool — she went to my high school, which was cool," Wall said.
Representing your country is always the ultimate dream for any young player and that was no different for Wall.
But perhaps she never really thought it was on her horizon.
"I don’t know if I thought it would really happen, so it probably was more of a dream.
"I kind of still felt like it was potentially a little bit out of reach, but this past year everything has happened pretty quickly and I was still shocked to get the call-up.
"It was definitely still a dream come true."
She is continuing to ride the wave after receiving her first official call-up for New Zealand’s two-game series against the Matildas in Australia.
The Football Ferns — who have not beaten Australia since 1994 — meet the Matildas in Gosford tonight and again in Adelaide on Tuesday.
Mayne congratulated Wall on her selection, saying the defender earned her spot after impressing as an injury replacement.
“I think it reinforces the importance of being ready to take opportunities when they arise, and shows that I’m open to bringing in new energy going forward," Mayne said.
"As soon I got back, I knew that I wanted to be selected in this tour," Wall said.
"Once I got that taste of that first tour, it was such a cool experience. The girls were all lovely, and I had so much fun and learnt so much just in that two weeks away in Mexico and the US, so I wanted to do all I could to get the next call-up."
Playing closer to home and at stadiums she was familiar with would be nice, she said.
Domestically, Wall is relishing her second season with the Phoenix — who are now coached by former Canadian coach Bev Priestman — in the A-League.
The Phoenix sit fifth on the table and are unbeaten after a historic 1-0 win over the Melbourne Victory, last season’s runners-up, for the first time last weekend.
"It’s really, really good this season," Wall said.
"Obviously having a new coach is going to be different, but I think it’s different in a really good way.
"Bev is amazing and she knows so much, so everyone is just trying to learn as much as they can and take on as much as they can."
Transtasman clash
The draw
Gosford, today, 9.30pm
Adelaide, Tuesday, 10.30pm
NZ squad
to play Australia
Liz Anton, CJ Bott, Kelli Brown, Claudia Bunge, Olivia Chance, Milly Clegg, Victoria Esson, Michaela Foster, Ally Green, Maya Hahn, Jacqui Hand, Betsy Hassett, Deven Jackson, Katie Kitching, Anna Leat, Annalie Longo, Meikayla Moore, Emma Pijnenburg, Gabi Rennie, Indiah-Paige Riley, Alina Santos, Kate Taylor, Lara Wall, Grace Wisnewski
