Ahead of a blockbuster clash with Brisbane Roar this weekend, Melbourne City midfielder Laura Hughes tells aleagues.com.au how she went from watching the CommBank Matildas as a fan in the stands, to an international debut 72 hours later.
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What began as a regular day in Laura Hughes’ life quickly became anything but, when a phone call led to her immediate withdrawal from a Melbourne City training session.
The news had reached City’s training ground: a concussion suffered by CommBank Matildas star Chloe Logarzo had led to her withdrawal from the international squad, and Hughes was the player selected to take her place.
From City’s headquarters, Hughes rushed home to pack her bags and by the afternoon, she was checked in at the team hotel and sitting in on interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni’s pre-game meeting ahead of a friendly against Chinese Taipei in Geelong.
Two days later, Hughes became a Matildas debutant, earning cap number 234 as a second-half substitute in Australia’s 6-0 win at GMHBA Stadium.
The 23-year-old describes the frantic experience as “a big shock – but a very happy shock.”
“I was on the extended squad list, so I was hoping to get called in,” Hughes told aleagues.com.au. “So when I found out, I was just in the middle of training, and they had to pull me out.
“They told me, and everyone was really happy for me. It was a big shock, to be honest, because, you know, there was only one game left.
“It’s quite funny, because when I got pulled out of training and I got the call, our physio chatted to their physio and they said: ‘No, she actually needs to train – she won’t make our session’. So then I was thrown back into (City) training. That was a bit all over the place.
“And then I rushed home and then got packed and then I was at the hotel that afternoon. So it was a pretty quick transition, but it was very funny, to be honest, for pulling me in and out of training, and then I had to warm up again and everything. But then I was in the hotel that afternoon at the team meetings, and yeah, that was the whole process.
“I was in there for only a couple of days. It was a very, very big shock, but it was a very good opportunity for me, and then to make my debut – I didn’t even think I would see the pitch, to be honest, but to get my debut as well, it just shows how quickly football can move, and that you always got to stay ready, which I did.”
Hughes’ debut came in the fourth and final friendly of Australia’s last international window of 2024. The Matildas faced Brazil in the first two fixtures of the series before rounding out 2024 with two games against Chinese Taipei in Victoria.
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The City midfielder was in the stands as a fan for the first Chinese Taipei friendly in Melbourne, completely oblivious to the huge career goal she would tick off within days.
“I was actually at the first Melbourne game at AAMI Park, because I had a few teammates there I wanted to support,” she said.
“From sitting in the stands there, wishing I was on the pitch and then I was in that meeting before the game, preparing for the next one, it was very unexpected, but it was a really good opportunity. And, yeah, I honestly still can’t believe it happened – but we’ll run with it!”
Named on the Matildas’ bench to face Chinese Taipei on December 7, Hughes was summoned by Sermanni to replace Michelle Heyman in the 70th minute of the 6-0 win in Geelong.
“It really hit me when I came out to warm up, because there were already so many people there, and the atmosphere was really good,” Hughes explained. “Seeing 30,000 people in front of me while I was sitting on the bench, I was pretty nervous – very nervous.
“But I think the conversation I had with Tom before going on to the pitch, he just said, ‘move the ball around, enjoy it, and you’ll be you’ll be alright’. So I guess there wasn’t a tonne of pressure on me. I just wanted to get out there and move the ball around and do the best I could.
“Sharing that also with Chloe Lincoln, a past teammate of mine as well, was really cool. Having one of my close friends, Karly Roestbakken, out there with me as well, I think that was a real special moment. And then seeing my brother and my partner in the stands as well after the game was really nice.
“The experience as a whole, from the football, to where I was, and the fans as well – who are die-hard supporters of the Matildas – I got to experience that.Â
“The Matildas are such a special team to Australia, and I was really, really happy to be a part of it.”
Hughes was one of four Melbourne City squad members to feature in Sermanni’s Matildas squad for a four-game international friendly series, along with club teammates Leah Davidson, Bryleeh Henry and Karly Roestbakken.
A total of 16 Ninja A-League players were selected for the four-game series, and 14 took place in matchday squads.
“There’s so much talent in the A-League, especially younger talent,” Hughes said.
“I think as we’ve lost a lot of the Matildas and a lot of international players (to overseas clubs) over the years, it’s given opportunities to the younger players in the A-League.Â
“There is so much talent. It’s really good that the Matildas staff are looking to boost the squad with those players, and I think that will only add to their experience, to get those players overseas as well, playing in clubs like Chelsea or Manchester City.Â
“I think the more experience we can give A-League players at an international level will only help the Matildas and it will help the A-League as well.”
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A Matildas debut in December capped off a “crazy” 2024 for Hughes who relished every opportunity that presented to her through her first full calendar year at City since her transfer from hometown club Canberra United in mid-2023.
The 23-year-old won the Premiers Plate with City last season – her first piece of silverware – and has since contributed to the club’s pioneering journey to the Quarter-Finals of the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League campaign.
READ: Melbourne City learn Quarter-Final opponents in pursuit of Women’s Champions League history
Ten rounds into the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season, City are unbeaten in both the Champions League and Ninja A-League, and along the way Hughes has added end product to her game, scoring the same amount of goals (three) through her first 10 appearances of the season that she managed through her previous 87 in the domestic competition.
Her Matildas debut, although achieved amid a chaotic three-day span, has been a long time coming for a player who has developed into one of the Ninja A-League’s standout central midfielders since her leap of faith from Canberra to Melbourne.
“I think the craziness kind of started when I first came to City for my first season, and that’s really set me up for these last few months, especially,” Hughes said.
“It’s been very hectic. I had a busy off-season preparing for this season, and then obviously, with the Asian Champions League and the call-up to the Matildas, it has been very crazy, but I’ve just been enjoying it, and taking each step as I can and learning as much as I can as well.
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“Melbourne City is a very ambitious club. It was sad to leave my hometown, but it was an easy decision in a way, when we’re talking football, and it has done so much for a lot of the Matildas and different interstate players as well.
“I have very big goals for myself on the pitch. So I thought City was a club that would help me get there.
“Being able to play with the players I’m playing with, the style of football as well, and then matching it with the best in Asia, will only set me up for playing against the best players in Europe or internationally.
“I think all the things I’m experiencing here at City are helping me improve, and giving me more to reach for. The history of Melbourne City has always been about success and ambition. So I think that’s definitely played a part, that players flock there to with those goals, and City is a platform for that.Â
“When you look at different leagues around the world, you always look to the top. And if Melbourne City is sitting up there, the players there are in the spotlight. So I think that’s definitely a factor in why Melbourne City have been able to boost careers and develop a lot of players as well.”
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Up next for Hughes and league leaders City is a blockbuster Round 11 clash with Brisbane Roar, who trail City by just one point heading into the weekend.
The second of two games in an A-Leagues double-header with City and Roar’s Isuzu UTE A-League side’s at AAMI Park on Saturday, the 7.45pm AEDT kick-off promises to be one of the games of the season – and a challenge Hughes is ready to tackle head-on.
“We all love playing at AAMI Park, so it’s a good stage for this sort of match,” Hughes said.
“Obviously Brisbane have been in really good form. They’re really threatening going forward and solid all through the lines in midfield and defence. So they’re definitely going to be a really tough match.
“We’re focusing on the things that we can do better, and what we’re doing well as well, and how we can expose certain things that Brisbane do. So I think it’ll be really focused on us as well.
“It’s always an exciting match. These are the matches you want to play in. Hopefully, we can get the three points and extend our lead at the top.”
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