AFL Draft Profile: Hugo Mikunda

A crafty front-half threat with a precise kick in his arsenal.

WRITER | September 23, 2025 - 7:31am

2661

Geelong Falcons forward Hugo Mikunda is a crafty attacker whose stocks rose throughout the course of this year's U18s National Championships.

Watch Mikunda's game for Vic Country at Marvel Stadium against South Australia and you get the microcosm of a serious player capable of doing real damage at the next level.

That was the high point of a consistent carnival for the electric connecting half forward, averaging a modest 13 disposals for Vic Country but impacting every time he got the footy.

Mikunda's understanding of where to be and work rate to get up the field, provide a bail out option out of defence, or position himself aggressively in the corridor and then turn opposition defences inside out with his elegant and incisive kicking made him an asset for both the Falcons and Vic Country.

He also proved to be opportunistic when he got the ball closer to goal, converting his shots.

He did all of that coming off no pre-season due to stress fractures in his back and having missed the early season games for the Falcons and, quite intriguingly, for how well he enhanced his stocks this season, Mikunda probably never really showed off his biggest strength: his rare athletic profile, with acceleration, top-end speed and endurance all great strengths.

Mikunda shapes as a potential to be a second-round selection and suits a club seeking an athlete who can connect as a centre-forward, potentially pinch hit in the midfield, and add an injection of energy in time.

38
RANK