He never played a senior game.

Wall’s 198cm frame and unique skill set that enables him to play ruck and key-position roles as adeptly as when he roams a wing next earned him a pre-season with Collingwood.

Luck didn’t go his way: he had glandular fever for the duration of his 10-week stay at the Magpies. Collingwood officials, as a result, did not draft him.

‘‘There’s not really an answer from me I can give,’’ Wall said in regards to why he did not make it at AFL level.

‘‘It’s one of those things I was given a few reasons and some areas I had to improve in — and I still have to improve.

‘‘Sometimes it comes down to what the club needs at that point in time and, unfortunately, it didn’t work out.

‘‘I am proud to say I definitely devoted 110 per cent to my time in the AFL system.’’

Essendon-based Wall, a Calder Cannons TAC Cup graduate, instead lobbed at the Scorpions, who were then St Kilda’s VFL affiliate.

He became one of the VFL’s preeminent players and yesterday said he probably played his best football when he was not on an AFL list.

The Goulburn Valley Football League Bulldogs first came calling before last season.

Wall elected to delay his country football stint another year and moved from Casey to rival VFL powerhouse Williamstown, where he linked up with ex-Scorpions coach and retired North Melbourne champion Peter German.

The Seagulls fell at the preliminary final stage after losing the grand final the previous season, whereas Tatura took all before it in claiming the GVFL premiership.

The Bulldogs again sounded out Wall and his former Casey teammates Rian McGough and Ben Waite — or the Big Cuban, as Wall called him — at the end of the year and this time they were ready to make the move.

‘‘It was a bit of a group decision. A good mate of mine, Rian McGough, knew a couple of guys at the club,’’ Wall said.

‘‘It was something I was always thinking of doing at some time and it is always about timing.’’

Wall’s opening two weeks in the Goulburn Valley competition have demonstrated what an asset he will be for Tatura.

He is playing a somewhat foreign role as a key forward and, such is his versatility, he has nine goals to his name through two rounds.

Wall was goalless in the first half of the Bulldogs’ season-opener against Kyabram, when he was opposed to a familiar face in ex-Coburg defender Jason Morgan.

But he rebounded to kick five second-half goals in Tatura’s come-from-behind win and added another four to the tally last week against Echuca.

‘‘It’s, obviously, a bit different (playing up forward) and it’s not something I’ve done a huge amount of in the last half a dozen years,’’ Wall said.

‘‘I’ve really enjoyed it and I’m playing in the forward line with a good mate of mine, Benny Waite.

‘‘I’d love to get into the midfield at some stage, because that’s what comes naturally to me, but the team dynamics don’t really fit the bill at the moment.’’

A senior flag is about all that is missing from Wall’s football resume. Not that he takes much notice of his individual accomplishments.

‘‘I’ve always played footy and enjoyed my footy for the camaraderie and mateship and the success you can potentially get at the end,’’ he said.

‘‘I’m a real team player and I’ve wanted to always be seen that way. Talking about personal accolades is not something I really want to do.

‘‘It’d be amazing if we could be in the window for (a premiership), but there’s a lot of work that still needs to be done.’’

More individual Wall achievements would certainly help the Bulldogs on their way to back-to-back flags.

Goulburn Valley interleague selection and a Morrison Medal are both realistic prospects for a man of his talents.

But he doesn’t crave them. They just come naturally to a player who gives his all.