Fresh after her first look inside Forsyth Barr Stadium on Wednesday, the Football Ferns midfielder was buzzing as the countdown for the home 2023 Women’s World Cup ticked under a year.
Rolston is back in New Zealand on a short break, as her Avaldsnes Idrettslag club in Norway takes a break for the Women’s Euros.
She was enjoying being back and while her visit to Dunedin was fleeting, there was enough to raise the excitement levels.
The 25-year-old has a long list of career highlights.
She has played in various professional leagues — including for MSV Duisburg in Germany’s women’s Bundesliga — as well as going to the Olympics with the Football Ferns.
The chance to play at home was tantalising, though.
To do so in the biggest event in the sport was something she said would not be topped.
"Home World Cup for sure, at the top," Rolston said in terms of where it would rate.
"At the moment Olympics is [top] for sure. It’s hard to explain the feeling of being able to do that — I get such a high high.
"But home World Cup, when I think about it, that’s going to be amazing. We haven’t played at home since 2018 and that wasn’t a great time for us.
"Then it was amazing to play in front of your friends and family, but when it’s the biggest women’s sporting event, it’s going to be incredible.
"I’m excited for the hype. I’m excited to see women’s football progress, as well and see people take it more seriously, can actually see what these players can do.
"The Euros have been turning out huge numbers at their games and stuff. I just think playing a home World Cup will be the top, top of my career.
"I really want to be there. I’m doing everything I can."
Rolston was enjoying playing in Norway.
She said the league was competitive throughout, aside from the top few teams, while bringing a similar style of football to New Zealand.
It had helped her development along, although she admitted at the conclusion of this season she hoped to take a step up.
"Next season I will be hoping to look to go somewhere else.
"I just want to experience different leagues. I feel like I’ve developed as much as I can in the Norwegian league. I would love to just expand and see what the other leagues are about, develop even further and push myself.
"I think at the end of this season I’ll look to get somewhere that will help me perform for the World Cup. Get into a good daily environment, where I’m being pushed each week and challenged to get better."
Rolston, who is from Wellington, had a horror run of injury and illness earlier in her career.
She was feeling good now, though, and felt the healthy run had helped her with her form.
That is good news for Football Ferns fans.
While the team has struggled for wins under new coach Jitka Klimkova, Rolston felt it was moving in the right direction to perform in 12 months’ time.
"We have a point to prove, I guess.
"We want to start showing we can perform and do it on a consistent basis. I think our preparation is going well.
"We’ve got a coach who’s just come in in October and [is] figuring out the style of play, and making sure we’re putting that into practice every time.
"We have different techniques in our bank, giving players different experience, [asking] who works well together and what’s going to be our best team to put forward.
"I think we’re still trying to figure that out. But these tours we’ve been having are really important.
"By the time the World Cup comes around, we’ll be raring and ready to go."
