Trailblazer: New Tiger Mykelti Lefau’s hope after stunning elevation to senior Richmond list

New Zealand-born Mykelti Lefau was awarded Richmond’s final list spot on Monday, with the Kiwi opening up on a big goal for his time in yellow and black, while revealing he already had a favourite teammate.

MELBOURNE , AUSTRALIA. February 18 , 2024. AFL. Melbourne vs Richmond practise match at Casey Fields. Mykelti Lefau clears by hand . Pic: Michael Klein

New Richmond signing Mykelti Lefau is planning to lean on locker buddy Marlion Pickett to learn how to make an immediate impact as he hopes to open the door to more New Zealanders in the AFL.

The Kiwi-born, former Melbourne Storm development squad member was locked in as

Richmond’s summer signing on Monday, beating out East Perth forward Mitch Schofield for the final list spot at Punt Road.

Lefau only stepped into Australian rules football in his late teens and encouragement from junior coach Warren ‘Cowboy’ Cawcutt pushed him to believe he could make something of the game he knew little about as a kid.

“He (Cawcutt) was the first coach who was pushing my case,” Lefau said.

“He believed in me. He was the first person who didn’t see me just as a rugby player, he knew I could do what everyone else was doing.”

Mykelti Lefau of the Tigers in action during the club’s match simulation against Melbourne. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Lefau’s athletic 194cm frame took quickly to his new sport – he once booted 25 goals to snatch a league goalkicking title after trailing by 10 majors heading into the final round.

“I ended up winning (the goalkicking). I think the guy (who was leading) would have had a rude shock to be honest,” Lefau chuckled.

After impressing with local club St Kilda City, Lefau eventually landed in Richmond’s VFL program but copped a serious knee injury in 2022.

He pushed through and made his case this pre-season, while soaking up advice from Pickett in the locker room.

Pickett famously played in a winning grand final in his first game after being a mid-year signing with Richmond in 2019.

Lefau said he was “pretty shaken up” when the news was broken on Monday morning and he called his parents immediately, before soaking it in with girlfriend Louisa.

“Marlion is just a couple of lockers away from me, I love him to death,” Lefau said.

“He loves me to bits I hope. He is always helping me, he is always in my ear just supporting me.

“He just tells me to back myself, back my strengths and don’t try to be anyone else.”

Richmond recruiting boss Matt Clarke said there was certainly a chance Lefau, 26, could impact Adem Yze’s team straight away.

You can see what this opportunity means to Mykelti and his family 🥹

📰 - https://t.co/bOcxbBfSpVpic.twitter.com/hJuD1Didk4

— Richmond FC 🐯 (@Richmond_FC) February 19, 2024

Richmond’s forward half will be missing youngster Rhyan Mansell for its opening round clash with Gold Coast, after he was ruled out with a syndesmosis injury that will be further evaluated this week.

After Mansell’s injury, Lefau came on in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s match simulation against Melbourne and kicked a clever goal.

“He (Lefau) is built physically to do it (play AFL) isn’t he,” Clarke said.

“When you sort of fall back on his competitive nature and athleticism and real power, he has got that.”

Lefau said he would bring a “different flavour” to Richmond’s team and wants to crash open the door for new players in the game.

“New Zealanders, islanders, I want to be the guy who opens the pathway for them,” he said.

“There is so much untapped talent there I believe. They have all got it but they just need someone to believe in them to do it.”

Longtime Tigers recruiter Clarke has been heavily linked to West Coast’s vacant list manager job and was noncommittal when asked whether he was interested in a move to Perth.

“We’ll just see, my commitment right now is here and today is all about Mykelti,” he said.

Originally published as Trailblazer: New Tiger Mykelti Lefau’s hope after stunning elevation to senior Richmond list