Teams v Richmond

[jdow]

Hack

So from the many times you've seen him play(I am assuming that you have otherwise having such a strong opinion is just sad), can you please give us your run down of why Pyke may not be of AFL quality.

He hasnt played any AFL games and a handfull of ACTFL games so no I havent seen him play much niether would have any one else! what I have seen is only 1 pre-season game and 1 reserves game and from what I have seen he lacks any sense of the games (not surprising given his background) his skills are poor again not surprising and his fittness has to be questioned given hes only been playing first class rugby. Sure hes big but for crying out loud this is not an easy game you cant pick it up in 5 mins and walk into the AFL after one pre-season and be any good at!!!!!!!

[jdow]

From the reports we have heard for months, he is fast for a very tall chap.
Surely that is a plus to beat other slower tall.
Got to start him sometime. Looks the right time to give him a go.
Right choice.

And, probably more of us like to see him in speedy run leaving his opponent for dead to lift the swan.

Go Pyke

What does it matter how fast he is? unless he can use it like a Dean Cox or do you want him to play a kick behind play surely hes not ready for that?

[laughingnome]

You cant pick it up in 5 mins and walk into the AFL after one pre-season and be any good at!!!!!!!

Why not? Barrassi once famously said to his North Melbourne charges that he could take a Sherrin to Brazil and find a little old lady who only spoke broken english and within 2 hours get her to handpass reasonably well, so why any first class footballer gets it wrong is beyond him.

AFL is hard to read sometimes, maybe, but by all accounts Pyke is the consummate professional and a hard worker on the training track wanting to get things right. I can't imagine his skills are sub-par after 6 solid months training and apart from a question on match fitness I think he'll be fine on Sunday as a second ruckman.

Let's not forget that Pyke is the 3rd ruckman on Sydney's list (based on he was selected, not Currie). Will he be as good as Jolly? No, and probably not White either. But I'll take Pyke over every other third ruckman on the other 15 team's lists.

[dimelb]

Work experience for Pyke. Steep learning curve. Good timing.

[Lucky Knickers]

Is it just me that is VERY concerned about Bird?
He has been very very handy and clever for us. How bad is this injury?What do we know?

[jdow]

Why not? Barrassi once famously said to his North Melbourne charges that he could take a Sherrin to Brazil and find a little old lady who only spoke broken english and within 2 hours get her to handpass reasonably well, so why any first class footballer gets it wrong is beyond him.

AFL is hard to read sometimes, maybe, but by all accounts Pyke is the consummate professional and a hard worker on the training track wanting to get things right. I can't imagine his skills are sub-par after 6 solid months training and apart from a question on match fitness I think he'll be fine on Sunday as a second ruckman.

Let's not forget that Pyke is the 3rd ruckman on Sydney's list (based on he was selected, not Currie). Will he be as good as Jolly? No, and probably not White either. But I'll take Pyke over every other third ruckman on the other 15 team's lists.

I think you can chuck the qoute out the window, hes a Professional Rugby player as for hard worker I would like to think most of team are shouldnt they?

6mths of practice well hell hes inline for a Brownlow are you kidding me we have kids in developement sqauds from the age of 12 like Reece Plamer for all there practice and specialised coaches etc over the last 5-6 years who cant hit the side of the barn with a beach ball underpressure at AFL level but some guy after six months of soild training is going play one of the most specialist roles on the field

Do you know any of the other clubs 3rd ruckmen are?

[laughingnome]

6mths of practice well hell hes inline for a Brownlow are you kidding me we have kids in developement sqauds from the age of 12 like Reece Plamer for all there practice and specialised coaches etc over the last 5-6 years who cant hit the side of the barn with a beach ball underpressure at AFL level but some guy after six months of soild training is going play one of the most specialist roles on the field

Do you know any of the other clubs 3rd ruckmen are?

Please try to use of punctuation; I nearly had an aneurysm trying to read that.

The point I was making was that Pyke will be well enough without being spectacular. No one's expecting him to win the 2009 Brownlow, Coleman and Norm Smith medals, only that he'll go out there on Sunday and perform his role adequately, and in all probability make way when White recovers. To answer your question here is a short list of 3rd ruckmen from a few clubs:

Brent Renouf (Haw)
Ivan Maric (Ade)
Cameron Wight (WB)
Shaun Hampson (Car)
Mike Pyke (Syd)
Tom Bellchambers (Ess)
Dawson Simpson (Gee)
Bart McCulloch (Bris)
Matthew Westhoff (Port)

That list doesn't include the LRT's of the competition that are in the 22 and in a pinch could ruck but preferably not.

This could of course all be academic later today if Roos culls the squad to 22 and Pyke isn't there, but I wouldn't like to see Jolly rucking solo all day.

[connolly]

I can't wait for the day when I don't see Ablett, Bevan or Buchanan in our starting 22.

Sport it will be like waiting for Godot in regard to Bevo. The Bevanator is a dead set 200 plus player, future leadership group and the capitaincy beckons. I estimate, given the strapping young man's superb Charles Atlas type fitness another 6-8 seasons of [I]egg sur la mug and humble pie on the menu for those who couldn't recognise a very good footballer if they fell over him. Or in the Bevantors case if they were tackled by him.

[connolly]

Because at this stage, he can't handball (they are big loops that put teammates under pressure) and his kicking is suspect at best.

On what he's shown so far, I can't believe he will get a game this week.

In other words he is a tall Benny Mathews. Ben perfected the looping casualty ward handpass.

[goswannie14]

I'll let you have fries with your words GS when the day comes

I won't hold my breath waiting.

[ScottH]

Well, Our 2 key forwards are back. If we can't kick a bag of goals this week after limping through the early stages of the season, then we need to seriously have a good long hard look in the mirror.
I expect ROK to look a little more comfortable with his main targets back, and I expect "Goodes to MOL" on a regualr basis.

As for Pyke, maybe they'll use him to crashbang through the young tigers Rucks, whilst Jolly is resting at FF or on the pine.

Which of the unlucky noobs, will be dropped to replace the other fwd? Probably Thornton or Barlow. I 'll put my money on Barlow.

[connolly]

Well, Our 2 key forwards are back. If we can't kick a bag of goals this week after limping through the early stages of the season, then we need to seriously have a good long hard look in the mirror.
I expect ROK to look a little more comfortable with his main targets back, and I expect "Goodes to MOL" on a regualr basis.

As for Pyke, maybe they'll use him to crashbang through the young tigers Rucks, whilst Jolly is resting at FF or on the pine.

Which of the unlucky noobs, will be dropped to replace the other fwd? Probably Thornton or Barlow. I 'll put my money on Barlow.

They have brought Pyke in against two ruckman, one of whom is shorter and both lighter, who have just 60 games between them and have kicked 13 goals. No better team to have his first run. Has to be careful in running through the centre bounce packs that he doesn't collect some hapless Tige head high. A good match up would be let him run off Richo on the wing. Could be the first ruckman to be rested on the wing in history.

[Ludwig]

With Moore back in as well, there are 2 players to drop.

Could be Ablett and Macelski, if anything can be made of Roos' comments earlier in the week about not necessarily dropping younger players. Both were listed as comming up sore from the Freo match.

I'd put Barlow on Richo, if Richo plays that winger role. A real opportunity to show off his supposed athleticism. Richo is the sort of player he should be trying to become.

[ScottH]

With Moore back in as well, there are 2 players to drop.

Could be Ablett and Macelski, if anything can be made of Roos' comments earlier in the week about not necessarily dropping younger players. Both were listed as comming up sore from the Freo match.

I'd put Barlow on Richo, if Richo plays that winger role. A real opportunity to show off his supposed athleticism. Richo is the sort of player he should be trying to become.

I didn't mention e Moore as an IN, as he was dropped due to form, I suspect with the other big INs he may miss out if Pyke gets the nod.

Ablett also hurt his shoulder last week, so could miss, and Mal has been pretty ordinary except for the Hawks game where he bobbed up for a few goals. Wouldn't be surprised if either don't make the final cut.

Barlow on Richo, would be interesting.

[ScottH]

They have brought Pyke in against two ruckman, one of whom is shorter and both lighter, who have just 60 games between them and have kicked 13 goals. No better team to have his first run. Has to be careful in running through the centre bounce packs that he doesn't collect some hapless Tige head high. A good match up would be let him run off Richo on the wing. Could be the first ruckman to be rested on the wing in history.

I reckon he'll be rested on the bench.