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

[Dinkers]

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.

Honestly don't know, but I'd assume when drafting later you focus on a need.

Absolutely and again I will remind y'all. 2002 W Brittian you need pace to play under the Dome. We ignored that forever.

Yep get excited

 

[Hermann Penorkel]

Name sounds just as made up as Hermann Penorkel (no offence intended Hermy).

No offence taken.

I was hoping having a unique name would be a real point of difference and make me stand out from the pack, but it was not to be. Still got hope for the rookie draft though.

 

[Themanbun]

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.

A coach of another club who I rate (never won a flag but still a good coach) basically made this assessment of us. That we are the worst transition running team in the comp and will keep getting beat until we change that.

It was in the context of the midfield's refusal to work, but it appears with draft FOS and now these blokes that we're trying to address it from the flanks after going chips in on the midfield.

Remains to be seen if it'll work but it's better than letting it fester.

 

[My Left Foote]

Hugo Mikunda = The That Way, I'll Go This Way

 

[Moti]

A coach of another club who I rate (never won a flag but still a good coach) basically made this assessment of us. That we are the worst transition running team in the comp and will keep getting beat until we change that.

It was in the context of the midfield's refusal to work, but it appears with draft FOS and now these blokes that we're trying to address it from the flanks after going chips in on the midfield.

Remains to be seen if it'll work but it's better than letting it fester.

Been obvious to me since 2009

 

[Moti]

Watching the game against the Ranges, he looks extremely promising across the midfield. He was about 5-10% off his most of his kicks but he makes the right decisions and quickly. Looks to me like a Butters type player.

 

[Devski]

Gives me Atley vibes.

Can’t wait for a commentator to call him a speedster seconds before he gets run down.

 

[kool kangas]

Watching the game against the Ranges, he looks extremely promising across the midfield. He was about 5-10% off his most of his kicks but he makes the right decisions and quickly. Looks to me like a Butters type player.

l hope he can get better and play like Zac Butters after a year or 2 in the vfl side..

 

[Recently retired]

If you've ever wondered why there was always a bunch of players like Turner, Howe, Shiels, Hansen, Drury, Stephenson, Stephens, Konstanty, Tucker etc in the team together in recent years, and why Scott had been rated so highly in the B&F despite his limitations, this year's draft/free agent decisions can give a bit insight.

Traditionally the midfield was your four in the centre square and your wings. This has changed. The outside mid group now includes your high half forward(s) and high half back(s).

In these HHF/wing/HHB positions you need players who can run hard structurally all day to shape the ground at both ends. Without it you can't defend the ground and you can't open up the game and generate speed with the ball. These roles are crucial to generating fast entries and causing opposition to have slow entries.

Sadly, until recently North either didn't see this change in the game or neglected it, and ended up having to play guys who athletically could fill the requirements but weren't really AFL quality players for various reasons.

Heading into this off-season there was only 10 of these players on the list - O’Sullivan, McKercher, Daniel, Hardeman, Simpkin, Stephens, Scott, Konstanty, Banch, Hansen (12 if you include Fisher & Goater who don't currently have the tank required, again for differing reasons) - only 7-8 of whom I think the coaching staff would have a good level of confidence in.

In reality, with 5 now on the bench you probably want 8 of these types in the senior team each week now, especially early in the season and especially under the roof. So adding Spargo, Dovaston and Mikunda is really just creating much needed depth and competition in these key areas.

In terms of Mikunda specifically, his speed, running power and ability to generate scores with his skills is an attractive package as a late pick. You could certainly see him developing as a wing where there is only really Hansen as a young, developing prospect on the list.

In terms of the HHF/wing skew in these selections, that suggests to me the coaching staff love FOS as a HHB and that McKercher might be swung between the inside mid and HHB spots this year. Time will tell of course.

 

[Supreme_Chancellor]

1st and 2nd round picks have been spent on positional needs and our 3rd round pick is essentially a punt on a bloke who will play a role. Can't say I'm upset with that.

 

[dirtybird]

The kids going to try his heart out for our club, probably the best day of his life so far in getting drafted to an AFL team.

 

[Waynesworld]

Not to racially profile but surely with a name like that you should be black

With a name like that I expected him to look like your profile pic!!

 

[Themanbun]

Hugo Mikunda. What a wonderful phrase.

 

[joegreen]

If you've ever wondered why there was always a bunch of players like Turner, Howe, Shiels, Hansen, Drury, Stephenson, Stephens, Konstanty, Tucker etc in the team together in recent years, and why Scott had been rated so highly in the B&F despite his limitations, this year's draft/free agent decisions can give a bit insight.

Traditionally the midfield was your four in the centre square and your wings. This has changed. The outside mid group now includes your high half forward(s) and high half back(s).

In these HHF/wing/HHB positions you need players who can run hard structurally all day to shape the ground at both ends. Without it you can't defend the ground and you can't open up the game and generate speed with the ball. These roles are crucial to generating fast entries and causing opposition to have slow entries.

Sadly, until recently North either didn't see this change in the game or neglected it, and ended up having to play guys who athletically could fill the requirements but weren't really AFL quality players for various reasons.

Heading into this off-season there was only 10 of these players on the list - O’Sullivan, McKercher, Daniel, Hardeman, Simpkin, Stephens, Scott, Konstanty, Banch, Hansen (12 if you include Fisher & Goater who don't currently have the tank required, again for differing reasons) - only 7-8 of whom I think the coaching staff would have a good level of confidence in.

In reality, with 5 now on the bench you probably want 8 of these types in the senior team each week now, especially early in the season and especially under the roof. So adding Spargo, Dovaston and Mikunda is really just creating much needed depth and competition in these key areas.

In terms of Mikunda specifically, his speed, running power and ability to generate scores with his skills is an attractive package as a late pick. You could certainly see him developing as a wing where there is only really Hansen as a young, developing prospect on the list.

In terms of the HHF/wing skew in these selections, that suggests to me the coaching staff love FOS as a HHB and that McKercher might be swung between the inside mid and HHB spots this year. Time will tell of course.

This. Was writing something similar and then saw your post and you have put it far better than I was about to.

We did in fact draft on need - the need for speed! The greater positional need over KPF or KPDs, are these running roles.

Football is a more and more a ground ball game of speed. How fast can the HHF/Wing/HHB get into position offensively and defensively - full ground press. And as stated by Recently retired then have the skills and decisions making ability as well.

 

[DesertRoo]

Hugo Mikunda. What a wonderful phrase.

Zurhaar and him are going to get along like a house on fire..

 

[roopdog]

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.

I wonder if we are also seeing CCJ as like a new recruit as well. Clarko seems to like him. I havent given up hope.

 

[Hojuman]

" The Mikunda surname is believed to have originated from the Czech Republic and may relate to specific occupations or characteristics. It is found in various countries, including the United States, where it has a notable presence among individuals of Czech or Slovak descent "

There you have it. Our Czech / Slovak brethren confirm this ?

 

[Dinkers]

A coach of another club who I rate (never won a flag but still a good coach) basically made this assessment of us. That we are the worst transition running team in the comp and will keep getting beat until we change that.

It was in the context of the midfield's refusal to work, but it appears with draft FOS and now these blokes that we're trying to address it from the flanks after going chips in on the midfield.

Remains to be seen if it'll work but it's better than letting it fester.

well not sure refusing to work is correct, more like not capable of doing it.

I would agree but the coaches seem to love him

For now mate, for now re Konstany for those watching.

 

[Krakouer Bonar]

Hugo is already my favourite player.

Reason? Because there has been such negative pushback and tantrum throwing by the nuffies over his recruitment.

 

[hilly]

A coach of another club who I rate (never won a flag but still a good coach)

You can disclose the name, not exactly the code to Fort Knox.

 

[King Corey]

The club channel highlights clips for all 3 boys are pretty poor.

However these:





Give a much better inpression of his potential. Hearing he had no preseason adds to the curiosity.

Wasn't wrapped that we didn't take a project tall but have come around to trying a kid with zip who can run it upfield.

At the moment we only have McKercher and Stephens with any kind of form in running roles in 2025.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Hugo Mikunda = The Most Likely Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)

One for the Blonde (winger) on Blonde (winger) fans.

 

[The Dingrel]

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.

Yes that's a very good point,,,we have been lacking quality disposal going inside 50, I think our improved scoring ability last season in large part was from Harry playing higher up the ground and hitting targets. Getting better ball delivery inside 50, plus the fwd pressure of Curtis, plus JD and Konstanty, and now Banch and dovaston, in my mind is going to go a long way toward improving our scoring efficiency, AND also cutting down our scores against via turnovers. And that takes a lot of pressure off the defenders.

 

[kangatragic]

Origin of name

 

[Makeshift Park]

I'm confused. Is it Mikunda as in rhymes with chunder, or Mikunda like junta?