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

[hilly]

Not sure we needed ANOTHER small player but if he can run as reported then he has a chance to make it.

 

[BlueRoos]

In the context of attempting to address the subpar high forward link play, bringing in Spargo, then Hugo makes some sense. Hugo's score assist numbers in the SA game were encouraging.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Wasn't sure about the selection from a list perspective but I think he's capable of playing on the wing. Excellent work rate, great overhead and good ball user.

Don't mind it.

Yep. Bit the same. Didn't love it initially from a list balance perspective with what else was there potentially.
Hugo did stand out for VC with his speed and workrate and obviously can play a bit of mid as well.
It's obviously an area we wanted to address probably due to frustration with those in the roles currently.
I thought we may have looked at a few of these types in the 2026 crop, so wasn't expecting it late this year.
But happy to have Hugo and looking forward to seeing him the blue and white.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Mikunda Forever. Get around the kid.

 

[rickety]

Hugo Mikunda - The Lini wants his hand back!

 

[Rooboys Rool]

I, like many others, have been very frustrated by our connection between our mids and our forwards, and have mostly blamed the coaches for the system being implemented. But I think what the pick up of Spargo and now drafting of Mikunda says is the club thinks it’s the players we had were not implementing their system correctly. FIIK really, but I guess we’ll see if the forward connection starts to improve.

 

[Its a Process]

Bailey - 181cm
L Ashcroft 181cm
Cameron - 180cm
Ah Chee 182cm
W Ashcroft 182 cm

Mannagh - 178cm
Close - 183 cm
Myers - 179cm
Stengle - 175cm

The best two sides ran a lot of short guys through high half forward and deeper forward.

Our problem isn't height, it's that none of our guys playing high half forward are anywhere near as good as the list above, or if they are, haven't proved it and are unlikely to. Whether it's Hansen Jnr, Harvey, Banch or one of our one-paced midfielders, we don't have anyone playing that position well. Konstanty is just serviceable.

Simpkin is reasonable but is he going to want out again? Hopefully Spargo can add something but there are questions marks.

Curtis at 185cm is a medium forward.

So the selections of Mikunda and Dovaston aren't surprising. A lot will be moved on at the end of 26. It'll be hunger games for small/high half forwards which is actually what the Cats and other clubs have done.

Great post. Only thing is missing is how overrated tall forwards are. Lions won a flag with big O on one leg and 2 x 19 yr olds who combined for 1 goal btw them.

 

[GerryLewis]

This kids going to be real real good. Hasn't scraped his potential ceiling yet. Had stress fractures in his back towards the end of last season meaning he had to rest throughout preseason. Worked his guts out regardless and still had a really strong carnival.
Relentless work ethic and smooth skills. Rare combo of pace and elite endurance.

 

[giantroo]

Thursfield on Hugo

 

[DuckYeah]

Imagine if we had the same thoughts with Brown and Larkey….

The later rounds can be a goldmine for talls. We are proof of that.

Exactly what talls are for unless they are the second coming of Jeremy Cameron or Buddy Franklin. Look at one of the most exciting forwards we have has come out of a suburban footy club. Even after a good nights sleep, this still makes no sense.

 

[DuckYeah]

Thursfield on Hugo

YouTube video

Project 180cm type with stress fractures.

Bugger me, rather 190cm+ projects. Not the finbar type but ones that have played football before.

Good luck Hugo.

 

[Dinkers]

So many good talls available. I dont understand.

C Comben 24 199cm 48 games
M Whitlock 19 198cm 2 games
C Trembath 20 194cm 3 games
W Dawson 19 200cm 8 games
T Goad 20 207cm 0 games
B Thredgold 18 195cm 0 games

Suppose the above is that answer, now we have finally woken up to the fact you need players that can work hard between the arch's.

So I assume we are focusing on those with that particular skillset. Folks can dislike the Spargo selection for one example, but his job will be to work up and down the ground at a fair clip. I actually think BOABBanch & Dovaston will be able to do the same.

Doubt Konstanty can, Phillips couldn't. Hansen Jnr could but he won't be involved in the play. Payne couldn't , Harvey can't.

Doubt Konstanty, Harvey & Hansen Jnr are on our list in 2027, so makes sense that we focus elsewhere that on talls.

Be excited we have spent years drafting kids that would have starred in the 80's.

 

[DuckYeah]

Doubt Konstanty

I would agree but the coaches seem to love him

 

[RooInNorthLondon]

Good post Dinkers. That list of our young talls also drives home to a skeptic like me just why they are giving Whitlock every chance to carve out a role upfront. It is said to be a good draft for tall forwards in 2026 so I expect us to reappraise our situation next year.

 

[Passmore]

C Comben 24 199cm 48 games
M Whitlock 19 198cm 2 games
C Trembath 20 194cm 3 games
W Dawson 19 200cm 8 games
T Goad 20 207cm 0 games
B Thredgold 18 195cm 0 games

Suppose the above is that answer, now we have finally woken up to the fact you need players that can work hard between the arch's.

So I assume we are focusing on those with that particular skillset. Folks can dislike the Spargo selection for one example, but his job will be to work up and down the ground at a fair clip. I actually think BOABBanch & Dovaston will be able to do the same.

Doubt Konstanty can, Phillips couldn't. Hansen Jnr could but he won't be involved in the play. Payne couldn't , Harvey can't.

Doubt Konstanty, Harvey & Hansen Jnr are on our list in 2027, so makes sense that we focus elsewhere that on talls.

Be excited we have spent years drafting kids that would have starred in the 80's.

Potentially we didn't think the talls available were actually much good?

And certainly speed is going to be more helpful than a midfield plodder.

Seems like someone down there has cottoned on to why we keep getting pantsed. Yes, exciting times, wee man.

 

[Ry009]

The melting over using a R3 pick on a player who has seems to be a solid ball user and has pace is mind boggling.

Great development for a project KPF with 9 iron delivery under pressure.....

 

[koshari]

I see a lot of Charlie Lazzaro

laz was a genuine tweener, killed it in vfl and couldnt stike a blow in afl, if this blike is an ounce better will be a player.

 

[giantroo]

Project 180cm type with stress fractures.

Bugger me, rather 190cm+ projects. Not the finbar type but ones that have played football before.

Good luck Hugo.

We did have Avery Thomas in our sights but he went a few picks after BT.

 

[koshari]

The melting over using a R3 pick on a player who has seems to be a solid ball user and has pace is mind boggling.

Great development for a project KPF with 9 iron delivery under pressure.....

hardly meltin, just a lot of surprise.

 

[DuckYeah]

The melting over using a R3 pick on a player who has seems to be a solid ball user and has pace is mind boggling.

Great development for a project KPF with 9 iron delivery under pressure.....

Its not a melt. Its sheer bemusement.

 

[Ry009]

hardly meltin, just a lot of surprise.

Its not a melt. Its sheer bemusement.

Yeah, nah. There's been solid bed wetting last 24 hours.

Just to clarify I'm firmly in the 'we've been shit for over half a decade and it ain't good enough' camp, and there's still plenty to be critical of with list management, with keeping guys like Fisher.etc.

 

[DuckYeah]

Yeah, nah. There's been solid bed wetting last 24 hours.

Just to clarify I'm firmly in the 'we've been shit for over half a decade and it ain't good enough' camp, and there's still plenty to be critical of with list management, with keeping guys like Fisher.etc.

Fisher should have been given away, Corr slso, im not throw CCj out camp but understand why he could have been.

Bewildering decisions all round this list management situation

 

[BlueandWhiteinmyBlood]

Feels like without his hamstring strain he may have gone quite a bit higher - almost like a Perez or George gamble without the long term injury.

 

[Ry009]

Fisher should have been given away, Corr slso, im not throw CCj out camp but understand why he could have been.

Bewildering decisions all round this list management situation

In terms of ones we didn't let go but should, I would HOPE that they're viewed as 'break glass in case of emergency types' not 'lets draft list cloggers so we don't get belted' types.

End of the day, 2026 is a huge year because if we have another bottom 4 year with minimal improvement, shit is going to get ugly. List management obviously has to be part of the bloodshed if we have another shit year.

 

[DuckYeah]

In terms of ones we didn't let go but should, I would HOPE that they're viewed as 'break glass in case of emergency types' not 'lets draft list cloggers so we don't get belted' types.

End of the day, 2026 is a huge year because if we have another bottom 4 year with minimal improvement, shit is going to get ugly. List management obviously has to be part of the bloodshed if we have another shit year.

Clarkos bus will look like its travelled through Gaza if 2026 is a shit year