Mykelti Lefau

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Mykelti Lefau
Personal information
Full name Mykelti Lefau
Date of birth (1998-06-22) 22 June 1998 (age 25)
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand [1]
Original team(s) Casey Demons (VFL)
Draft Undrafted
Debut Round 2, 2024, Richmond  vs. Port Adelaide, at MCG
Height 195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight 94 kg (207 lb)
Position(s) Key Forward
Club information
Current club Richmond
Number 42
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2024– Richmond 10 (14)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 12, 2024 season.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Mykelti Lefau (born 22 June 1998) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). [2] Lefau made his debut for Richmond in their match against Port Adelaide Football Club in round 2 of the 2024 AFL season. [3]

Contents

Early life

Lefau was born in Auckland, New Zealand [1] to a Samoan father and New Zealander mother. [4] Raised on rugby union, he had never heard of Australian rules football prior to moving to Australia in 2012 where he joined his father in Australia to attend year 8 of school. A talented rugby player, he was scouted by the National Rugby League team Melbourne Storm who signed him up as a "development player" being part of the club's U16 and U18 lists. [5]

Lefau was introduced to Australian rules football in his late teens and decided to try out for the Gippsland Power however was not selected. Instead he played for the local Melbourne side St Kilda City Football Club in the Southern Football Netball League where he excelled, kicking 25 goals in one Under 19s match.

In 2016, at the age of 19, he had become an established player at the Casey Demons, the Victorian Football League (VFL) affiliate of the Melbourne Football Club, with a goal to be drafted to the AFL. [4] He was a member of Casey's 2017 VFL Development League premiership side, kicking two goals in the grand final victory over Williamstown. [6]

In 2017, due to his heritage he earned selection in the New Zealand national Australian rules football team in Wellington against the AFL Academy, which he would return to play for in 2018 and 2019, however his selection in the side came after the 2017 Australian Football International Cup and as such missed representing New Zealand in that

Lefau joined the Richmond Football Club's reserves team ahead of the 2023 VFL season. [7]

AFL Career

After a consistent season in the VFL Lefau was selected as a rookie by Richmond in the 2023 AFL Draft Pre-season supplemental selection period. [7] Less than a month later he had made his AFL debut in Round 2, 2024 against Port Adelaide though had been rushed into an injury ridden side and was not given much game time. [7] In Round 3, he kicked 2 goals against the Sydney Swans. [8]

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References

  1. 1 2 Mykelti Lefau from AFL New Zealand 16 July 2018
  2. ↑ "Player Bio - Mykelti Lefau". Richmond Football Club . Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  3. ↑ "Kiwi-born Mykelti Lefau set to make AFL debut". Radio New Zealand . 23 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  4. 1 2 Lefau's journey from rugby to footy By Ben Gibson for Melbourne FC 17 May 2018
  5. ↑ "Richmond sign former Melbourne Storm development player Mykelti Lefau ahead of AFL SSP deadline". Seven News . Seven Network. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  6. ↑ "Casey 94 def. 82 Williamstown". VFL / VFLW. 17 September 2017. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 'Anything is possible': New Tiger's enjoying his incredible journey By Josh Gabelich for afl.com.au 25 March 2024
  8. ↑ Lefau scores first AFL goals, helps Richmond to upset win from RNZ 1 April 2024
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