VIKKI Wall is kind of a big deal. 

The 24-year-old may only be one season into her AFLW career, but back home in Ireland she's a bona fide star. 

That's what happens when you're twice Player of the Year for County Meath in the Gaelic Football Association. 

"I get noticed here or there all right back home," Wall says. "It's been unbelievable the past few years. 

"We have a structured system so there's three tiers. We won the middle tier and then gone on to win the top tier two years in a row."

Wall is witty. She speaks fast. 

Sometimes it's difficult to fully discern what she's just said, but the humour that underpins her Irish quips is wholly understandable. 

So, too, the warmth Wall exudes when talking about the tribal nature of Gaelic football.

"Where you're from is where you play," Wall explains. 

"It's a very rare thing that people would transfer. It would only be if someone's moving their entire lives to a totally different county. 

"The feeling of winning back home with people you've grown up with and played football with from the age of 12 and they're all from the same vicinity…," Wall trails off, a thought percolating. 

"You could be walking around Meath and you might bump into an 85-year-old man who has been watching you play since you were 12 or 13 and has strong opinions on things… it is great, the community aspect."

Some 27 days after lifting the trophy with Meath in front of 46,440 fans at Croke Park, Wall made her debut for North Melbourne. 

"Coming over here off the back of a week of celebrations was definitely an interesting experience," she laughs. 

"I was trying to sweat it out the first week I was here."

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Despite being new to the game, Wall is a critical cog in Darren Crocker's team. 

She leads North Melbourne for tackles inside 50, while only Tahlia Randall and Emma King have kicked more goals. 

In round 10 against Richmond – the same side Wall and her Roos face in Saturday's semi-final – she even pinch-hit in the ruck. 

And while other Irish imports have been rudely shocked with the physicality of Aussie Rules, Wall has relished the bumps and bruises. 

"I love it," she smiles, while adding that she has a tendency to get too rough in Gaelic. 

"I'm still getting used to it. Sometimes I kind of forget I'm actually allowed to get physical."

Wall is quite literally immersing herself in North Melbourne. 

The forward points across Arden Street, explaining where she lives with Erika O'Shea, a 20-year-old Gaelic prodigy, who's also in the midst of her debut AFLW season. 

Only four years separates the Irish duo, but Wall is certainly playing the role of mum in the shared apartment. 

"There's definitely been a few life lessons learned so far," Wall smirks. 

"The dishwasher, the washing machine… but we're getting there. Cooking chicken was one of them, how to actually check it's cooked through."

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O'Shea works in North's merchandise shop, while Wall spends time in the club's marketing team. 

"I'm still learning the ropes," she says. 

"But it's good to kind of see the other aspects – even thinking about attracting crowds to the games."