“I was going to give it up”: Richmond favourite reflects on recovery, AFL journey and Samoan heritageMitch Keating
zerohanger.com
2 Feb 2025Richmond favourite Mykeli Lefau is confident he will "come back better" from his current ACL recovery, with the Tigers enforcer opening up on his rehabilitation and his gratitude to the club.
Lefau - accompanied by teammates Josh Gibcus, Tylar Young, Taj Hoton and Judson Clarke - flew to Samoa this weekend, with the 26-year-old touching down in his native land for the first time ever.
The Tigers utility was born to a Samoan father and a New Zealand mother, with Lefua growing up across the Tasman before moving to Australia.
Amid Lefau's long-term recovery, Richmond have given the big-bodied Tiger the chance to tell his story to family in Samoa, while introducing teammates to his culture and people.
The opportunity has left Lefau "speechless", with the second-year Tiger taking the time to reflect on his journey to Punt Road - one which almost saw him give up on his football dream.
"I was thinking yesterday about what the club has done for me," Lefau said.
"When I came here, I honestly thought I was going to give it up and give up the AFL dream, and now this is all happening, and they're taking me back to Samoa. I'm honestly speechless.
"I can't believe we're actually going that's just such a massive opportunity. And I'm just so grateful for the club.
"It would be such an awesome opportunity to go over there and leave a Tiger footprint. The opportunity that can come from this is just unreal.
"It's my first time going. Just going back to my roots where my culture is and just doing it with the club that I love, that's what I'm most looking forward to."
Lefau has undergone a meteoric rise since learning of Aussie Rules as a teenager, featuring for the Casey Demons before landing with Richmond's VFL program.
A strong 2023 campaign saw Lefau emerge on Richmond's radar as a potential AFL player, with the club pulling the trigger almost 12 months ago to offer the strong-tackling Tiger a contract.
Having blazed the trail, Lefau knows the same chance can be afforded to Pasifika AFL prospects with the needed support and resources.
"There's already been lots of people talking to me about how they used to play AFL back when they were younger. Islanders, Pacific Islanders, and they didn't really get much, much support I suppose so," he said.
"So this is going to be massive, just to let them know that you can do whatever you want.
"We just have so much potential in this sport, because you can play any size, you can have any ability. You can work at it and you can eventually make it here."
Lefau's journey to the AFL didn't come without heartache, with his current ACL injury not the first of his career.
Having suffered the same setback several seasons ago, only to return stronger, Lefau has learned not to take anything for granted - a challenge that will see him come back better than ever.
"Just expect the unexpected all the time, never take anything for granted," Lefau said of his injury battle.
"I was obviously riding that roller coaster at the top and just came straight back down.
"I learned resilience with the first ACL that I did, that's for sure. Just kept me honest to make sure that I never skip a beat and always stay prepared.
"I came back from my first ACL better so I know I can come back better the second time."
Lefau's recovery has remained on course since suffering the injury in May last year, with a potential mid-season return on the cards for the Tigers attacker.
https://www.zerohanger.com/i-was-going-to-give-it-up-richmond-favourite-reflects-on-recovery-afl-journey-and-samoan-heritage-158189/
