Michael Pyke

[Bear]

I am well aware you're expressing an opinion. Your opinion simply didn't seem to bear any relevance to, well, anything. Seems this may have been a touch too complicated.

If it's too complicated for you, you might be best off not responding to something you don't understand with, well, anything.

You seem to expect first year ruckmen to come into the side and dominate from day one.

Hmmm... yep, what I said WAS clearly too complicated for you. Just leave it alone if you're going to misrepresent like that.

[giant]

Pike was and remains a 1000/1 long shot - doesn't mean he's not worth a roll of the dice. It will presumably cost us significantly less than Hunt will cost the Gold Coast.

[BSA5]

If it's too complicated for you, you might be best off not responding to something you don't understand with, well, anything.

Hmmm... yep, what I said WAS clearly too complicated for you. Just leave it alone if you're going to misrepresent like that.

Actually, I was implying that it was a touch too complicated for you.

And yes, that was an exaggeration. I was trying to make a point. The fact still remains that Pyke's performances are not bad at all for a first year ruckman, and yet here you are talking all gloom and doom. And then you go on about what happens when another player develops past him, as if a) that's a given, and b) there's no room for handy depth players or trade bait on a list. And if he is squeezed off the list, well that's fine. You are assuming he must be treated somehow differently, or it will be a big deal if other players move past him, and I am puzzled as to why.

[dimelb]

He did all right
on Saturday night

[Reggi]

Gee I am surprised there is nothing but amazement at his progress. shoo in to stay on list and a real prospect

You suspect when when he gets confident in the AFL aggression will come to the fore and he will really be intimdating

[giant]

I thought he did an excellent job - clearly he's best game for us.

[Lucky Knickers]

I thought he did an excellent job - clearly he's best game for us.

Yes. The fact that he had the confidence to kick it is a huge step and is looking far more confident in his marking. Just missed bringing down a good contested mark.
We are going to need him if Jolly's hamstring is bad...

[1%ers]

I don't think he is anywhere near ready. From the 2's report Orreal has come on rapidly. Why not give him a try now.

I won't be getting any Pyke bandwagon tickets for a while yet.

I watched the Ressies when both were in the same side an Pyke was much better that day.

Regardless delist Bevan and promote a rookie

[Bear]

I thought he did an excellent job - clearly he's best game for us.

Excellent? Are you taking the piss?

[Primmy]

Excellent? Are you taking the piss?

No Bear. We are not.

He is doing the best he can with the skills he has at present and he is worth persevering with, big time. He is learning at a fantastic rate, and is much better at this game than some of the ressies who have been playing since they were kids.

On top of that, having a choice of lets say NONE at present to back up Jolls, he is worth his weight, even if for fifteen minutes a game. His tap rucking has improved out of sight and at times reminds me of Spida in action, and I would consider that excellent. The rest will come. His kicking is long, his handballs not good. So what. We need backup for Jolls, LRT is needed in the backline, Jesse is needed in the forwared line, who else do you have in mind at present. Kirky? Hanners?

[laughingnome]

We need backup for Jolls, LRT is needed in the backline, Jesse is needed in the forwared line, who else do you have in mind at present. Kirky? Hanners?

Hodge got caught in the ruck against Paddle-aide on the weekend. Needless to say he didn't contest it and the Power got a goal.

[Hartijon]

Experiments are taking a punt

Mike Pyke is an experiment. We have to take a punt with him.Thats the whole point of having him.Otherwise we have just given a Canadian tourist a couple of years living in Sydney.Therefore you have to play him if the experiment is to have any chance of working.Either play him or delist him but don't play an in then out game with him.
Judging solely by his improvement rate,if he is played every week ,he will be a very handy ruckman by about midseason next year. I am confident he can make it and will accept with tolerance his "stuff ups" and lack of football nouse. Hell I have watched football cultured since birth players like Reg and Ablett stuff up week after week and now they have both come good so what's the difference?
I think he is a good prospect and well worth continuing with.I can see him having the potential to really take the game on once he reaches that critical break through period of about 20 odd games.

[Bear]

No Bear. We are not.

He is doing the best he can with the skills he has at present ....

Yeah yeah we know all that feel good stuff.

Back to the point. He is not excellent by AFL standards. He needs a year more in reserves at least to learn how to play the game and become a good, let alone excellent footballer.

[dimelb]

I think he has got beyond reserves in that he doesn't need to be coddled or protected but rather to be thrown in the deep end, which is what the selectors have done. He hasn't sunk, neither is he near Jolly's standards, but he is doing a lot more than merely treading water. He'll improve faster where he is.

[jdow]

No Bear. We are not.

He is doing the best he can with the skills he has at present and he is worth persevering with, big time. He is learning at a fantastic rate, and is much better at this game than some of the ressies who have been playing since they were kids.

On top of that, having a choice of lets say NONE at present to back up Jolls, he is worth his weight, even if for fifteen minutes a game. His tap rucking has improved out of sight and at times reminds me of Spida in action, and I would consider that excellent. The rest will come. His kicking is long, his handballs not good. So what. We need backup for Jolls, LRT is needed in the backline, Jesse is needed in the forwared line, who else do you have in mind at present. Kirky? Hanners?

Reminds you of Spida! wishfull thinking. I think you have hit the nail on the head though his job is to do exactly what he is doing be a big body in the ruck and I reckon thats all he will ever do and thats why he is on our list, with a chance and a extremely slim one at that he might actualy be a bit more the coaching staff new that they needed to cover Jolly while others develop and to cover injury. Kinda doin a Luc Longley job at the Bulls but for Sydney