Michael Pyke
Collapse
X
-
Got to agree with Hartijon, anyone who thinks Pyke has done a decent job as a 2nd ruckman needs to have another look at the games he's played.
I certainly don't have an issue with the way he's progressed, any senior games this year were a bonus, but the fact is we have effectively played one man short when he's been on the park. Those who have played football would know that it is a severe disadvantage, particularly with the speed of the current game.
I guess the coaching staff ruled us out of the finals too early (who would have thought that the other teams would be so incompetent?) and thought it would be good to get some game time in to him. Nor did we have any other viable tall options available due to injuries.
It's a stretch to say it cost us a finals spot, but I agree that we would have been a better team without him on the park. Tough call to say it was the difference between a win and a loss in the Saints and Cats gamesComment
-
I'm more than happy with how he has gone as a ruckman. The stats I quoted earlier in this thread speak for themselves.
Moreover the basic skills are there - he can kick and catch a Sherrin, he can tackle, he can handball and he can certainly run.
The area he is lacking in is positional play. Although having said that it would have been interesting to see what he could do when he was parked in the forward 50 against Collingwood and their defence had to be rearranged when Presti went onto him. Unfortunately, I think the ball didn't come in while he was there.
I'd give a thumbs up on what he's done so far and call it a qualified success. If he can pick up the positional stuff over the next, say, half season or so, we have ourselves a winner. If not, we go to plan B.
I've wondered why he wasn't simply given the instruction to run with the opposition ruckman as his basic training; or have I missed something? (Perfectly possible)He reminds him of the guys, close-set, slow, and never rattled, who were play-makers on the team. (John Updike, seeing Josh Kennedy in a crystal ball)Comment
-
"I've wondered why he wasn't simply given the instruction to run with the opposition ruckman as his basic training; or have I missed something? (Perfectly possible)"
Yes ,totally agree with that strategy. A "run with " role would teach him the game so quickly and haven't we had success with the boys who started this way! You haven't missed anything and have hit the nail on the head!Comment
-
Thumbs down
Pyke not picked for the last game? This is not a good sign unless he is injured.Against Brisbane he might have had a chance to expose their lack of size in an offensive way or do we pick a defensive team based on what the opposition has? Either way,he needed the time running around the park when the result doesn't matter. To me,the selectors have given him the thumbs down!Comment
-
Who would have thought that with one more pinched win we would have been right in the mix (and me a lot richer).Comment
-
Pyke not picked for the last game? This is not a good sign unless he is injured.Against Brisbane he might have had a chance to expose their lack of size in an offensive way or do we pick a defensive team based on what the opposition has? Either way,he needed the time running around the park when the result doesn't matter. To me,the selectors have given him the thumbs down!Est 1874
SMFC
09.18.33.2005Comment
Comment