Player Watch #28: Hugo Mikunda - selected with R3(#48) in the ND - Welcome to North Melbourne, Hugo!

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Welcome Hugo

 

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Hugo Mikunda: Roos take Falcons forward-mid with pick No.48

Creative mid-forward Hugo Mikunda is a Kangaroo after North Melbourne selected the Geelong Falcons prospect with pick No.48

www.nmfc.com.au

Five things to know about Hugo Mikunda

A forward-mid who models his game on a champion Lion

www.nmfc.com.au

 

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Mental growth propels athletic AFL Draft prospect

The exciting forward has battled injury but learned about his body.

www.zerohanger.com

Mental growth propels athletic AFL Draft prospect​

The exciting forward has battled injury but learned about his body.​

Geelong Falcons AFL Draft prospect Hugo Mikunda is set to bring more than just a flashy skillset to an AFL club if drafted in November.

Athleticism, impact with ball in hand and versatility, he ticks the boxes from a skillset point of view, which was on show at a high-impact U18s National Championships for Vic Country.
What 2025 provided the Bell Park junior, though, was excellent off-field growth.

Stress fractures suffered in late 2024 delayed Mikunda's start to 2025, while he missed the last match of the season and AFL Draft National Combine – where he was anticipated to test well – with a hamstring injury.

That followed the athletic forward having to deal with the frustration of being named Geelong's U16s captain only to miss the Falcons' matches and opportunity to press for Vic Country selection due to a broken hand sustained in a practice match in 2023.

“I learned so much about my body during that time,” Mikunda told Craft of the Draft.
“I smashed a whole bunch of back and core and watched a lot of vision to learn about where I could implement using my speed and power in games.”


Mikunda had a powerful ally through that period – former Western Bulldog and North Melbourne reconditioning coach Daniel Cross, with whom he has a family connection.

Armed with a rehabilitation program and advice from Cross while sidelined, Mikunda made great mental progress, speaking candidly about the difficulty of watching his teammates prepare for 2025.

“There was probably one time, one night I remember coming home just absolutely cracking it,” Mikunda said.

“Obviously, you're battling every time but there was one night I just came home, threw my bag on the ground, went to my room and just laid there thinking about it, but, I got past that.

“You hit little milestones like first run back, and then first kick back, and all those puts a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

“Since then, I feel like I've realised injuries aren't forever. They're just sort of set like little setbacks, the path shape you even like this hammy, I'm in the mindset that it's not forever.

“It probably could be a positive in a way, to see that there's a little weak area to strengthen hopefully leading into an AFL pre-season so I can see the positive in everything now.”

Hugo Mikunda had an excellent U18s National Championships for Vic Country in 2025. (Riley Lockett/AFL Photos).

In between the setbacks, Mikunda's year was highlighted by a standout National Championships where his blend of getting high up the ground, delivering inside 50 and ability to hit the scoreboard stood out.

The Falcons prospect, who models his game on Zac Bailey, was consensually viewed as Vic Country's best player in its game against the title-winning South Australia on Marvel Stadium.

Six weeks later, Mikunda played a one-off game for Werribee VFL, where he played the high half forward to perfection, which strengthened his self-belief that he has what it takes to take the next step.

“I feel like I use my power more now (than before my injury) by breaking lines and driving my legs,” Mikunda said.

“Something I love about my game, and I want to try and keep improving on my game is being a damaging king of player that doesn't need a whole bunch of disposals but can turn a game just like that.

“Playing that high half forward role, I think that's something that's really important.”
Mikunda's hamstring injury denied him the chance to show off his excellent athletic profile at the National AFL Draft Combine, with his repeat running, top-end speed, endurance and agility all aspects that take his game to the next level.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 07: Hugo Mikunda of Victoria Country in action during the Marsh AFL National Championships U18 Boys match between Western Australia and Victoria Country at Mineral Resources Park, on June 07, 2025, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

The teenager believes his time away allowed him to learn more about bringing those traits out in games, with his Geelong coach Paul Corrigan indicating it complements his skillset beautifully as he seeks to make the step up.

“I think what he's what he's really added to his game playing the high forward role is a real balance and appetite to hunt the opposition and defend, and he has impact from an offensive point-of-view with ball in hand,” Corrigan said.

“It makes him a really impactful player.

“We worked hard throughout his 17s year and this year in making him versatile by playing him through the midfield and allowing him to show his contested stuff and he's only going to continue to grow as he enters a full-time program.

“You never want players to have injuries but for him to understand how to get through it, look at the process and be really detailed with it – he ticked every box and I think that helped him have continuity.”

Geelong contemporary and top 10 prospect Josh Lindsay has perhaps overshadowed Mikunda's growth, with the pair sharing a close relationship and spending time training together across their time in the talent pathway.

Speaking at the AFL Draft National Combine, Lindsay gave Mikunda a glowing endorsement.

“He's a gun,” Lindsay said. “He's one of my best mates and we put a mountain of work in together.

“He's had a fair few injuries over the last couple of years but when he's up and firing, I think he's one of the best players in the draft and he's so clean and his athleticism is really good as well.”

 

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Hugo Mikunda Draft Profile

Crafty Geelong Falcons forward/midfielder Hugo Mikunda is a creative kicker with high impact-per-possession.

central.rookieme.com

AFL Draft Profile: Hugo Mikunda

A crafty front-half threat with a precise kick in his arsenal.

www.zerohanger.com

Geelong Falcons forward Hugo Mikunda is a crafty attacker whose stocks rose throughout the course of this year's U18s National Championships.

Watch Mikunda's game for Vic Country at Marvel Stadium against South Australia and you get the microcosm of a serious player capable of doing real damage at the next level.

That was the high point of a consistent carnival for the electric connecting half forward, averaging a modest 13 disposals for Vic Country but impacting every time he got the footy.

Mikunda's understanding of where to be and work rate to get up the field, provide a bail out option out of defence, or position himself aggressively in the corridor and then turn opposition defences inside out with his elegant and incisive kicking made him an asset for both the Falcons and Vic Country.

He also proved to be opportunistic when he got the ball closer to goal, converting his shots.
He did all of that coming off no pre-season due to stress fractures in his back and having missed the early season games for the Falcons and, quite intriguingly, for how well he enhanced his stocks this season, Mikunda probably never really showed off his biggest strength: his rare athletic profile, with acceleration, top-end speed and endurance all great strengths.

Mikunda shapes as a potential to be a second-round selection and suits a club seeking an athlete who can connect as a centre-forward, potentially pinch hit in the midfield, and add an injection of energy in time.


Strengths
Creativity
Kicking Efficiency
Work Rate

 

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Managed by TGI Sports

Mikunda gains praise from Shifter

Geelong Falcon Hugo Mikunda has gained praise from AFL draft guru Kevin Sheehan. The 180cm midfielder played 10 games for the Falcons in this year’s Talent League season, as well as appearing for…

www.krock.com.au

Geelong Falcon Hugo Mikunda has gained praise from AFL draft guru Kevin Sheehan.


The 180cm midfielder played 10 games for the Falcons in this year’s Talent League season, as well as appearing for Victoria Country in four Under-18 National Championship games.

Mikunda had already drawn praise for his impact with limited disposals for Vic Country.

His ability to go forward and into the midfield has seen Sheahan list the Bell Park product among his top small forward draft prospects.

“Mikunda uses his running power as a real weapon to gain separation from his opponents in his high half-forward role,” Sheahan said.

“He is also a strong player one-on-one, particularly with his aerial ability.

“He was one of the Geelong Falcons’ best performers in ten Coates Talent League appearances, in which he averaged 17.3 disposals, which included a season-high 30 disposals against eventual premiers the Eastern Ranges in Round 11.”


Mikunda missed last week’s draft combine testing due to a hamstring strain.

 

[Liam Boy]

180cm midfielder is it

best of luck to him of course

 

[Lomas]

It’s a wonderful day.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Who!

 

[noobermensch]

A couple of Mikunda vids to look at:

 

[zoomba23]

180cm half forward. Stupid morons. Ah well. 2/3 ain't bad

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

who is that

Welcome another midfielder

Oh well.

 

[JGreezy]

We're obviously going to lean towards speed and pressure

 

[Dinkers]

Mikunda = the Kuhuna

 

[RooInNorthLondon]

I guess that tells us what our staff think of our forward group taking Dovaston and Mikunda.

 

[Moti]

Had no pre-season apparently

 

[Shinboner1]

Redacted*

 

[benbrown]

Loving the melts

 

[marklovesbeer]

 

[Dinkers]

We're obviously going to lean towards speed and pressure

Yep and it's super exciting that's it's only taken us 25 years to work out the importance of pace.

 

[Passmore]

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Welcome Hugo, hope you prove me wrong!

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

Archie will be a gun, clearly means a lot to him.

 

[Passmore]

Sounds like he should be taking the new ball for South Africa.

 

[Roostorm]

Good luck to him….grab the opportunity which is more than most of can dream of

 

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