All Hugo Mikunda could do at one Geelong Falcons pre-season training was cook sausages on the barbecue.
The quick and creative forward-mid started feeling pain through his back in August last year, and a scan revealed a stress fracture on his right side.
Just when he got his body right, Mikunda suffered another stress fracture on the other side of his back.
“Got to December, got right, had a month running, and then my other side went, had the stress fracture on the other side,” Mikunda said.
“So then followed another program with that. That one the pain disappeared pretty quickly.
“I’m sitting on the sidelines, I couldn’t run, could just handball to a friend – that was pretty much it.
“And I’m seeing all my mates out there training, getting better, enjoying themselves. And it’s challenging, but these little injuries like this definitely shape you.”
As draft hopefuls were preparing for the season ahead, Mikunda was clocking kilometres on the bike and performing seated boxing.
Like any good comedian, he was punching up.
“Just sitting there and punching up, so that was a workout. Because it’s good for your shoulders and you get a bit of cardio out of it. That was certainly hard though,” Mikunda said.
“A lot of core and pelvic control strengthening around the back. But it was mainly throughout the core. Tried to fix my posture as much as I could, but there was a lot of hours on the bike sitting there trying to turn the legs over to try and stay fit.
“I learnt so much about my body throughout that period, which I think helped me throughout that back end of the year. But then I trusted myself, trusted the people around me, and eventually I got right to be able to play.”
The 180 centimetre playmaker managed to get back for round four of the Coates Talent League, but didn’t play as he would have liked until the national championships with Vic Country.
It was there that two performances against South Australia and Vic Metro ensured the speedster – who ran a lightning quick 2.86-second 20 metre sprint last year – wasn’t forgotten by clubs.
His 18 disposals, 11 score involvements, nine marks, six score assists and a goal in Vic Country’s defeat to the Croweaters stood out in the eyes of recruiters and underlined his key traits as a high half-forward — a role that is underrated yet crucial in the modern game.
“Most (recruiters) have said that South Australia game. Didn’t have a lot of the footy, but I think had high impact,” Mikunda said.
“And that’s what I try and model my game around. Don’t need a lot of the footy, but high impact for me is what I use my strengths for to be able to be a high impact player.
“My speed and power are two big attributes, especially these days. The game’s built on running.
“So to be able to have that speed to get from inside to outside and then also have a decent tank, are awesome attributes for me to be able to play at that high level.
“I still definitely want to try and improve as much as I can, try and carry the ball as much as I can, but it’s just a work in progress.
“With my athletic profile, they (AFL clubs) really want to see me use it as much as I can, fly for my marks, burn people, chase them down, use my running capability to get from inside to outside as quick as I can.”
Clubs were just as impressed by his VFL display for Werribee, which was the Bell Park product’s first senior game.
Some didn’t know he was out there at first, but they soon took notice of Mikunda as he tallied 15 touches and seven score involvements.
It gave the Bell Park product confidence that he can make the jump into the AFL ranks.
“They (AFL clubs) loved it,” Mikunda said.
“They didn’t even know I was playing, to be honest, until a few of them were there and said, ‘Oh, that’s Hugo’
“Started on the bench and then as soon as I got out there, I just felt at home – I didn’t feel out of place.
“I probably didn’t use the ball as much side as well as I wanted to. The disposal efficiency wasn’t that good, but it showed I can still break lines, break tackles against bigger bodies and put my head over the ball.
“I feel like I could show that I can play at that high level with the bigger bodies, and showed I can still find a bit of footy. Just played that high half forward role, it was an awesome experience.”
Mikunda has spoken to 15 clubs, with seven sides eyeing him with picks in the back-half of the draft.
If he does make the grade, he may become the league’s sole nautical scientist – the study of the operation, navigation and management of ships.
His father has taken him fishing since he was young and he has loved the ocean ever since, getting his boat licence as soon as he turned 12.
“I’m massive on the marine industry, boats, all that,” Mikunda said.
“So nautical science is a field I’m really passionate about, and there’s so many different fields with that.
“Whether it be the marine life underwater or the boating path. So that’s a field I’m super passionate about and want to pursue down the track.
“Down in Queenscliff there is the Port Phillip sea pilots. That’s probably a job I definitely want to get into. And I’ve done some day trips out on it, driven the boat a couple of times.”
The Geelong local would be a nice fit at the Cats — who currently hold pick 40 — in more ways than one.
Not only does Mikunda have the breakneck speed that Geelong plays with, he also shares a love for fishing and the great outdoors like many of their players, including Jeremy Cameron and Patrick Dangerfield.
One of Mikunda’s best catches was an 18 kilogram Southern bluefin tuna caught in Barwon Heads.
“Try and take my brother out as much as I can, we both love it. It’s good fun, it’s a little escape. Like camping, fishing, all that kind of thing, it’s a little breather around footy,” Mikunda said.
But Mikunda is confident that he won’t be a fish out of water in the AFL system despite what he describes as an inconsistent draft year.
“To be honest, I think this season’s been pretty up and down. Probably haven’t been as consistent as I wanted, but I definitely had some good patches, which I was really happy with,” Mikunda said.
“I know my best footy is good enough to play at the high level – I’ve definitely had feedback from recruiters about that.
“It’s an exciting chapter because you don’t know what’s next really.
“I’m just trying to study as hard as I can, still hang out with mates, don’t lose the friendships from school, and then crossing my fingers hoping your name gets called out on draft night.”