Charli Grant engaged: Matildas defender to marry Lachlan Cameron
Throw in living 16,000km apart on opposite sides of the world and Matildas defender Charli Grant said the difficulty level increases substantially.
Grant and fiance Lachlan Cameron had only ever known long distance relationships.
When they went public with their romance Grant was playing in Sweden and Cameron living in Adelaide.
Days after Cameron popped the question in the lead up to Christmas last year, Grant was back on a plane bound for London – to play for Tottenham.
'Long distance was really difficult,' Grant said.
'I think the longest time apart might have been four months. It was hard with the time difference.
'We would only be able to speak just before I went off to training and then he would be asleep by the time I finished training.
'So it was only small doses of the day.
'It would make the time when we got together really special.'
But just two months after the pair were engaged, in December 2024, Cameron packed his bag and moved to London to live with Grant.
'It's been some difficult moments, some really exciting moments with my football and to have him there by my side to just give a cuddle when I need a shoulder to cry on or someone to celebrate with,' Grant said.
'It's really special to have him with me.'
It isn't a luxury all of the Matildas have.
Most have to move abroad in order to play football at a higher level and for better pay.
Fowler ruptured her ACL in April and as it is mid-NRL season Cleary has had to offer his support from the other side of the world.
'It's a tough time for her but I'm also super proud of her, just the way she's attacked it so far,' Cleary said at the time.
'It's sometimes sad that I can't be there with her, just looking after her. But I'm very proud of her.'
With the English WSL season over and Matildas set to play in Perth later this month Grant and Cameron have both made the trip back to Australia.
In between catching up with family and friends and catching every seaside sunset she can, the couple are doing some serious wedding planning.
Grant, fairly, didn't want to reveal too many details.
'We want the wedding to be back home in Australia so it's been hard to get to venues and things like that,' Grant said.
Robert discusses Charli Grant's impressive versatility on the pitch in recent games ðŸ'� pic.twitter.com/3SAC4axrSX
— Tottenham Hotspur Women (@SpursWomen) May 8, 2025
'We are both probably not the best planners so we need some people to help us out with that. Now we are back home, we've had a look at a few venues, it's finally to finally get started.'
Planning the wedding around her football schedule and commitments will likely be the tricky part.
'It's such a funny conversation to have with the venues because they ask what dates are you thinking and I'm like 'I don't know my schedule for my work yet.
'It can be hard to find the time but in the small breaks we get I'm sure we'll be able to organise a day.'
ON THE PITCH
Grant struggled to get on the pitch at Tottenham this season – playing just 396 minutes across 10 matches. It followed not being named in the final 18-women Matildas squad for the Paris Olympics.
'It's been my most difficult year, this past year,' Grant said.
'I think both the national team and club, it's been hard to cement a spot and get good game time.
'I've been working really hard to prove myself and make the most of any opportunity I'm given.'
Tottenham finished 11th on the Women's Super League ladder with just five wins from 22 games. Coach Robert Vilahamn has been subsequently sacked – a new coach is yet to be named.
Matildas have also finally appointed Joe Montemurro – giving Grant a clean slate at both club and national level.
It was lack of game time at Tottenham that ultimately left Grant out of the Olympic squad – named in the extended team instead. She is desperate to avoid the same happening at next year's Asian Cup.
'It's exciting to have two new coaches, Tom (Sermanni) was great and I've learned a lot from Robert as well at Spurs but it's nice in the national team to have a new coach so we can really focus on the Asian Cup.
'It's a really good opportunity to show myself.
'I was really struggling to get game time at Spurs so hopefully with a new coach coming in I can show that I can play. I'll be working really hard this off-season to earn my spot.'
Grant's first opportunity to impress Montemurro will be when the Matildas take on Slovenia and Panama across two two-game series in Perth starting on June 26.
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