North Melbourne's Mikunda out for season after ACL tear in first pre-season
Hugo Mikunda, 19, ruptured his ACL in North Melbourne's first pre-season training session and will miss the entire 2027 season.
North Melbourne's pre-season has already been hit hard by injury. Hugo Mikunda hyperextended his knee on Monday during the club's first official training session.
Scans confirmed an ACL rupture requiring surgical repair. The 19-year-old untried defender will sit out the whole 2027 campaign.
George Wardlaw also delayed his return after sustaining a low-level MCL sprain over the off-season. He is expected to join main training in a fortnight.
Key defenders Charlie Comben and Griffin Logue are expected back in January. Jackson Archer will start running next week and have a gradual return over two months.
The Kangaroos' head of performance said Wardlaw has done solid work on his running and strength base during the off-season.
- 19
- Mikunda's age
- January
- Expected return for Comben and Logue
- Fortnight
- Wardlaw's return timeline
- Next week
- Archer's running start
Why it mattersLosing Hugo Mikunda for a full season is a major setback to North Melbourne's list depth and development plans for 2027.
AustraliaNorth Melbourne's injury crisis could reshape their 2027 team selection and their finals hopes; other AFL clubs will monitor their available depth.
