Mary Fowler grew up in Far North Queensland - and she's just revealed why she would NOT live in her home town of Cairns now that she is a Matildas superstar

Matildas superstar Mary Fowler has declared she wouldn't live in her home town of Cairns as it is 'too small' for someone of her 'worldly' stature.

Given she has called Europe home in recent years playing for Montpellier in France and English giants Manchester City, the 21-year-old has certainly come a long way from her early life as a student at Holy Cross School in Far North Queensland.

Fowler won't ever forget her roots - especially her football journey which included living in tents and the family car - but these days her life is frenetic.

'With the amount of travelling I've done, growing up and even in my football career, I'm maybe a much more worldly person,' she said.

'Long term, I probably wouldn't live in Cairns - it's too small for me now - but it is nice to go back and reminisce, and see the field that we [family] used to play on, and then think about where I am now.

'I know what my success would look like to me.'

Off the pitch Fowler has generated attention due to her blossoming relationship with NRL gun Nathan Cleary - but winning a medal at the Olympics in Paris is her current core focus.

And Fowler - who made her debut for the Matildas aged just 15 - will have to deliver with the world watching, given skipper Sam Kerr is out injured.

In news that will excite Matildas' fans, Fowler is primed to leave a huge mark at the Games.

'The first one [Tokyo in 2021] was a bit different because I wasn't expecting it and it was a childhood dream of mine to go to the Olympics, so I was in tears that I had achieved that,' Fowler said.

'This time around, I'm just more tournament-based, football-based. 'I want to go there and I want to win, and I want to help the team as much as I can.

'I feel like I'm able to help out more compared to the last time when I was more of a bench player.'

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has drummed home to his players in the lead up to the Olympics what he wants to see unfold from their opening match in Paris - the ball constantly at Fowler's feet, whether that's on the wing, as an attacking midfielder or as a striker.

'That's part of the growth that I've had,' Fowler said. 'Before, I maybe shied away a bit from having that responsibility.

'Because if you don't perform, then it's like, 'okay, well, you've got to take responsibility for not doing what the team needed.'

'Now I see it a bit differently, where if someone is putting that pressure on you or giving you a bit more responsibility in the team, it's because they believe in you and they think you're actually capable of doing that.

'So I take it as a bit of a pat on the back. 'I want to keep that standard and be consistent and do what I can to actually help the team win and not shy away from that.'

Being on the books of star-studded Manchester City since 2022, where Fowler hasn't been a walk up starter in the Women's Super League, has also hardened the Matildas x-factor. 

It has made her a better player and driven her to scale new heights. 

And don't for one second think Fowler will be happy with a fourth place finish at the Olympics, where the Aussies take on Germany, Zambia and the US in Group B from July 26.

'Honestly, probably getting knocked out in the group stage feels better than coming fourth,' she said.

'Because you are so close, but then you just didn't make it from one game [playoff for third].

'It's definitely fresh in people's minds and it's actually helped fuel us to want to do better this time around.'