What is the thinking behind recruiting Pyke? It must be serious and not a joke so they obviously must be looking at a rucking position?Surely no one could pick up enough skills in a year to hold down a key position and 2 years would make him too old. It's gotta be a ruck position..am I wrong?
The second Ruckman
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What is the thinking behind recruiting Pyke? It must be serious and not a joke so they obviously must be looking at a rucking position?Surely no one could pick up enough skills in a year to hold down a key position and 2 years would make him too old. It's gotta be a ruck position..am I wrong?Officially on the Reid and Sumner bandwagon!Comment
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mmmm
At elite level I am tempted to say that 26 is too old to debut unless there have been mitigating circumstances and you have been well grounded in the sport as a junior.The learning curve at elite level is savage as young Vespa found out in the finals.Having said that,there are always the exceptions...guys who don't follow the script.I hope Pyke is one of them!Having played with ex rugby players in the NSW competition I found they did not adapt as quicky as soccer players. Under pressure,they threw the ball,tackled clumsily and gave away a mountain of free kicks.They were tough guys and good at bursting a line of defence and good in a brawl.At elite level so much is instinctive ,split second stuff that comes from years of preparation and quick adaption.I doubt you can pick this up at 26!Comment
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Rookie Swan Pyke has a bright future and a remarkable past - realfooty.com.au
Definitely being groomed as a ruckman - working on skills with Jolly ...
He's coming along in leaps and bounds," says Darren Jolly, who is working with Pyke on his rucking skills. "He does his homework, asks lots of questions, he's fit, strong and is picking the game up quickly."
Is he a chance to play senior football in 2009?
"Absolutely," Jolly says. "I'd put him in first round if I had the chance. He still needs to work on marking and kicking but everything else is coming along really well.Comment
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Mike Pyke
Our Canadian friend seems to be coming along well. I hope he turns into a good player for us, it sounds like he's got some real potential.
Swans turn over a new maple leaf - realfooty.com.au
I'll have to take a Canadian flag along to the first match he plays, and make him feel at home.Comment
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Rookie Swan Pyke has a bright future and a remarkable past - realfooty.com.au
Definitely being groomed as a ruckman - working on skills with Jolly ...Comment
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Jolly is encouraging. The bit about needing to improve marking and kicking is ominous though. Another one tap pony?Bevo bandwagon driverComment
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"He's coming along in leaps and bounds," said JollyThe man who laughs has not yet heard the terrible newsComment
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I could add a few Swans players to the list who need to improve their marking and particularly their kicking. Compare the way we spray our forward kicking to the precision of Geelong and Hawthorn. But that's another story. I reckon the big maple leafed woodchopper might get a run sometime if what Jolly says is accurate.Comment
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I could add a few Swans players to the list who need to improve their marking and particularly their kicking. Compare the way we spray our forward kicking to the precision of Geelong and Hawthorn. But that's another story. I reckon the big maple leafed woodchopper might get a run sometime if what Jolly says is accurate.Bevo bandwagon driverComment
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Although he was a full back (don't tackle much) the big mountie teaming up with young Bevo in the centre will be a nightmare for opposing midfields.Bevo bandwagon driverComment
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They don't tackle often, but they tackle well (they need to, they're the last line of defence) and they often tackle in free-flowing, unstructured situations (the sort of situations that would most closely resemble a game of Aussie Rules).Officially on the Reid and Sumner bandwagon!Comment
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If Jolly acknowledges that his kicking and marking are problem, then his tap/body work will be a far greater problem.
I'd hate to think that our ruck stocks have fallen so far that we are expected to take this seriously.Comment
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