AFL 2024: Mykelti Lefau to debut for Richmond as injuries hit Port

Injuries at Richmond have led to an unlikely debut as Port lost a gun midfielder for their MCG clash and an Essendon star withdrew from his team’s clash with Sydney.

Richmond will unleash summer pick-up and former Melbourne Storm development player Mykelti Lefau against Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday after losing injured pair Jacob Hopper and Nathan Broad.

Confirmation 25-year-old New Zealand born Lefau would make his AFL debut comes as Port confirmed it would be without midfield gun Jason Horne-Francis who has picked up a hamstring injury.

Essendon will also be without Darcy Parish for Saturday night’s clash with Sydney after he felt hamstring “awareness” following the club’s main training session on Wednesday, with Ben Hobbs called in as his replacement.

But the Western Bulldogs will get a boost after coach Luke Beveridge opted to include Caleb Daniel in his starting 22 after using the All-Australian as his sub in the Round 1 loss to Melbourne.

Big man Rory Lobb has been axed to make way for Sam Darcy with Caleb Poulter and Oskar Baker also been added to the team for the crunch clash with Gold Coast in Ballarat.

The Suns will be without co-captain Jarrod Witts (groin), allowing Ned Moyle to come into the team along with boom young forward Jed Walter and Ben Long.

West Coast veteran Andrew Gaff has been sent to the WAFL along with defender Alex Witherden ahead of the Eagles clash with GWs who will be without Nick Haynes who has withdrawn for personal reasons and will be replaced by James Peatling.

Update.

Midfielder Darcy parish will not make the trip to Sydney with a precautionary approach taken citing awareness following main training.

Ben Hobbs will come into the 23 and Dylan Shiel is added as an emergency.

— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) March 22, 2024

Lefau’s debut for Richmond comes just 34 days after he was elevated from the Tigers’ VFL program capping an impressive, and unique rise having spent his teens in the Storm’s development squad.

He booted two goals in the opening half of Richmond VFL’s practice match against Carlton Reserves last Thursday and coach Steve Morris said Lefau was in “outstanding form”.

“He’s bringing his training form to games and competing really well in the air,” Morris said.

“But also putting pressure on at ground level. He kicked a beautiful snap goal in the first half.”

Mykelti, Your-Kelti, Our-Kelti 🫶

34 days after becoming an AFL-listed Tiger, Mykelti Lefau will make his league debut in Round 2.

— Richmond FC 🐯 (@Richmond_FC) March 22, 2024

Lefau moved to Melbourne in 2012 and was initially a member of the Melbourne Storm development squad but after shifting his attention to Australian rules kicked a mammoth 25-goals in a single Under 19s match in 2016.

He comes in to a side depleted by the loss of Dion Prestia with a hamstring, and now Hopper (knee) and Broad (calf) and looking for a maiden win for new coach Adem Yze.

Port included Tom Clurey as a replacement for Horne-Francis.

Originally published as AFL 2024: Mykelti Lefau to debut for Richmond as injuries hit Port