Mykelti Lefau

Mykelti Lefau
Lefau in May 2026
Personal information
Full name Mykelti Lefau
Born (1998-06-22) 22 June 1998
Auckland, New Zealand[1]
Original teams Richmond (VFL)
Casey Demons (VFL)
Draft 2024 pre-season supplemental selection
Debut Round 2, 2024, Richmond vs. Port Adelaide, at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Height 195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight 94 kg (207 lb)
Position Key Forward
Club information
Current club Richmond
Number 42
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2024– Richmond 32 (37)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2026 season.
Career highlights
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]

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 invited to attend the AFL New Zealand Combine in April 2017 held at ASB Sports Centre, Wellington.[6] Due to his heritage he earned selection in the New Zealand national Australian rules football team in Wellington against the AFL Academy, however his selection in the side came after the 2017 Australian Football International Cup and as such missed representing New Zealand in that tournament. He was a member of Casey's 2017 VFL Development League premiership side, kicking two goals in the grand final victory over Williamstown.[7]

Lefau returned to the New Zealand senior side playing against the AFL National Academy in 2018 and 2019.

Lefau joined the Richmond Football Club's reserves team ahead of the 2023 VFL season.[8]

AFL career

After a consistent season in the VFL, Lefau was selected as a rookie by Richmond in the 2024 pre-season supplemental selection period.[8] Less than a month later, he made his AFL debut in round 2, 2024 against Port Adelaide.[8] In round 3, he kicked 2 goals against the Sydney Swans.[9] In round 12, 2024, Lefau ruptured his ACL.[10] He did not play for the rest of the year, and only made one senior appearance in 2025.[11]

In February 2026, Lefau received a two-game suspension and a fine after being caught driving with a high blood alcohol reading.[12]

In the 2026 AFL season Lefau was awarded the Michael Roach Medal as Richmond's leading goal kicker.

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2026 season.[13]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2024Richmond42 1014545277231191.40.54.52.77.23.11.90
2025Richmond42 100202110.00.02.00.02.01.01.00
2026Richmond42 212312976916672601.10.64.63.37.93.42.90
Career 32371714496240104801.20.54.53.07.53.32.50

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. ↑ "Inside Football's Draft Prospect Profiles – J-M". 1116 SEN. Sports Entertainment Network. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  7. ↑ "Casey 94 def. 82 Williamstown". VFL / VFLW. 17 September 2017. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 'Anything is possible': New Tiger's enjoying his incredible journey By Josh Gabelich for afl.com.au 25 March 2024
  9. ↑ "Lefau scores first AFL goals, helps Richmond to upset win". RNZ. 1 April 2024.
  10. ↑ O'Connor, Alison. "Scans confirm the worst for first-year Tigers forward". afl.com.au. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  11. ↑ Pavlou, Anna. "Lefau 'all in' on 2026 hopes". richmondfc.com.au. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  12. ↑ Reid, Harrison. "Richmond forward Mykelti Lefau slapped with two-game suspension and fine for drink driving". 7news.com.au. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  13. ↑ "Mykelti Lefau". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
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