UPDATE
Richmond have confirmed the additional of Mykelti Lefau to their senior list.
Tigers National Recruiting Manager Matt Clarke was thrilled for the 26-year-old as he gets his first real opportunity in a professional environment.
"Mykelti has worked hard to put himself in this position, from learning the game as a teenager to coming back from a serious injury last year," he said via a statement.
"He has not put a foot wrong since he came to our Club and has shown across the past three months that he can blossom in a professional environment.
"We are excited to be adding him to our AFL list."
EARLIER
Richmond have handed their final list spot to New Zealander Mykelti Lefau ahead of the Pre-Season Supplemental Selection period deadline on Monday, reports SEN’s Sam Edmund.
Lefau joined Richmond’s VFL program in 2022 after stints with the Casey Demons and St Kilda City in the Southern Football League.
The 25-year-old was previously a member of the Melbourne Storm’s NRL development program and only began to follow an Aussie rules pathway following his junior years.
Bit of SSP news about on deadline day. VFL intercept defender Ethan Phillips will be announced as a Hawk within the hour. Richmond has also settled on taking Auckland-born, Kiwi colossus Mykelti Lefau. @1116sen
— Sam Edmund (@Sammy__Edmund) February 19, 2024
The Auckland-born forward impressed in Richmond’s pre-season practice match win over Melbourne on Sunday at Casey Fields, kicking one crafty goal and was imposing with his 194cm frame.
Richmond SSP hopeful Mykelti Lefau applies the pressure and dribbles one through.
— AFL (@AFL) February 18, 2024
🎥: @kayosports @foxfooty pic.twitter.com/aqhyDIRwq4
Richmond also had East Perth forward Mitch Schofield train at the club across the summer, but Lefau has won the sole available list spot.
Lefeu averaged 11.8 disposals, 6.4 tackles and 2.9 clearances a game for Richmond in the VFL across the 2023 season.
Edmund is also reporting that Hawthorn will take VFL defender Ethan Phillips after losing James Blanck to an ACL injury. Seven's Mitch Cleary is reporting that North Melbourne will hand an SSP spot to tall VFL forward Tyler Sellers.
The SSP deadline is set for 5:00pm (AEDT) on Monday.