Delistings

[Captain]

Even if Playfair is injury free, he still can't kick.

[Plugger46]

Even if Playfair is injury free, he still can't kick.

Correct. He can take a mark but that's about it.

[blinddog]

Wasn't leaping Leo a forward when he joined the Swans

[Bear]

Pyke, on what he has shown this year, has no chance of being elevated, let alone loose man in defence or any ather bizarre suggestion.

A potential back-up ruckman is his only hope. This will take at least 2 years to be able to play the game properly, by which time he'll be 27ish... my money would be on Currie, Orreal, or next draftee to fill the role(s) by the time Pyke gets a reasonable understanding of the game.

[Hartijon]

Of course not. Aluminium foil is far more effective.

Honestly, I'm not expecting Pyke to become our Luke Hodge, or become an important cog in our side (in any position). I'm saying he should be trialled in the role in the ressies, and if he takes to it as well as he has ruckwork, and the opening is in the team for him as a ruckman as it has been this year (i.e. Currie gets injured/is @@@@, Orreal isn't ready, etc), then it may be worthwhile sticking him down there for patches rather than just benching him. I'd never trust him with a direct opponent down back, but it would be good for his development, good for our rotations, and would only happen if he had proven himself at reserves level first.

And I want to make it clear that I'm not saying full back in Union and loose man in defence in AR are essentially the same position. But in terms of the skills involved, they have the most in common. In order to make it as a full back in union, one must have a talent for reading play and judging the flight of balls, aerial skills, and consciousness of your positioning. While the way in which you utilise these skills are very different in AR (ball will travel through the air differently, and the positioning in relation to other players is completely different), he has shown aptitude for these things in one context; with a bit of experience he should be able to switch.

I am not disrespecting you,you argue logically and well..its just some of your concepts are false premisses to base an argument on. The loose man in defence concept for example,We discussed this before...its a strategy not a position,if allowed by the opposition coach (highly unlikely) and not exploited to be used against us(highly unlikely)it is a role only the most highly talented ball player can play.Brownlow medal winner Goodes could possibly play it as a strategy and beat the opposition counter on him.Luke Hodge did this in the GF last year beating Rooke. Ther is NO WAY Pyke and loose man in defense should be used in the same sentence..unless you want us to get thrashed?

[Go Swannies]

Pyke, on what he has shown this year, has no chance of being elevated, let alone loose man in defence or any ather bizarre suggestion.

A potential back-up ruckman is his only hope. This will take at least 2 years to be able to play the game properly, by which time he'll be 27ish... my money would be on Currie, Orreal, or next draftee to fill the role(s) by the time Pyke gets a reasonable understanding of the game.

Do you just have this on a Word document somewhere so you can cut-and-paste and post it whenever Pyke's name is mentioned? If not, you should.

For what it's worth, I suspect that the Swans will think a very fast big man who reads the flight of the ball well but needs to develop an instinctive feel for the positional moves of the game is worth developing. I'd expect that he was given some guarantee (as Tiger and his family were) that he'd be rewarded for moving to Oz. And, because of injuries, we've seen him a year too early. Remember Roos said early this season that he never expected him to play this year - or be ready to play - and he was very impressed with where he was at, considering the incredibly short time he's played the game.

[hammo]

Do you just have this on a Word document somewhere so you can cut-and-paste and post it whenever Pyke's name is mentioned? If not, you should.

For what it's worth, I suspect that the Swans will think a very fast big man who reads the flight of the ball well but needs to develop an instinctive feel for the positional moves of the game is worth developing. I'd expect that he was given some guarantee (as Tiger and his family were) that he'd be rewarded for moving to Oz. And, because of injuries, we've seen him a year too early. Remember Roos said early this season that he never expected him to play this year - or be ready to play - and he was very impressed with where he was at, considering the incredibly short time he's played the game.

I doubt that any "deal" is in place. Pyke was given a spot on the rookie list with no guarantees. It was his manager who sent a DVD to the Swans, not the Swans pleading to him to relocate.

I have no problem with Bear repeatedly balancing and inserting some reality into the debate. Considering Mitch Clarke's display last week, let alone the freakishly talented ruckman developing in the West, I'm surprised there are so many people who still choose to ignore the glaring deficiencies in Pyke's game.

[Go Swannies]

I doubt that any "deal" is in place. Pyke was given a spot on the rookie list with no guarantees. It was his manager who sent a DVD to the Swans, not the Swans pleading to him to relocate.

I have no problem with Bear repeatedly balancing and inserting some reality into the debate. Considering Mitch Clarke's display last week, let alone the freakishly talented ruckman developing in the West, I'm surprised there are so many people who still choose to ignore the glaring deficiencies in Pyke's game.

Dunno. I really admire the skills of Judd and GAblett too but I'm glad I have Kirk in my team. Jolly at his best is some distance below Cox at his best. Surely it's leaving the coaches to make the most of what we have, rather than lamenting what we don't. Personally, I've gained a lot of satisfaction from watching the kids develop this year - and that included Pyke's deft touch as a junior ruckman when he should still have been chilling in Canberra learning the rudiments of the game.

[Plugger46]

I have no problem with Bear repeatedly balancing and inserting some reality into the debate. Considering Mitch Clarke's display last week, let alone the freakishly talented ruckman developing in the West, I'm surprised there are so many people who still choose to ignore the glaring deficiencies in Pyke's game.

So you're saying he needs to be one of the best ruckmen in the game? Of course he has deficiencies - he's been playing the game for 12 months.

No-one here is saying he will be a superstar or even guaranteeing that he'll make it but writing him off at this stage is just irrational. If he comes good at 27 great, we've got a solid ruckman for the next 5 years. If he doesn't, then I reckon he will have been worth the punt.

[BSA5]

I have no problem with Bear repeatedly balancing and inserting some reality into the debate. Considering Mitch Clarke's display last week, let alone the freakishly talented ruckman developing in the West, I'm surprised there are so many people who still choose to ignore the glaring deficiencies in Pyke's game.

Nobody is ignoring his deficiencies. To say that he has come along very well in 12 months doesn't mean that he has suddenly become a gun and is perfect and will be a star. He's incredibly raw and limited, nobody is denying that, but he has blown all expectations about his development out of the water (most were thinking he wouldn't get a game for two years, yet it was more like two months), and the unfortunate fact is that due to injuries and lack of ruck depth, Pyke was our best option as a second ruck for a good chunk of the year.

[Jewels]

Nobody is ignoring his deficiencies. To say that he has come along very well in 12 months doesn't mean that he has suddenly become a gun and is perfect and will be a star. He's incredibly raw and limited, nobody is denying that, but he has blown all expectations about his development out of the water (most were thinking he wouldn't get a game for two years, yet it was more like two months), and the unfortunate fact is that due to injuries and lack of ruck depth, Pyke was our best option as a second ruck for a good chunk of the year.

Anyone who saw him play at Rouse Hill in the pre-season would have to be amazed at the progress he has made.

[royboy42]

Anyone who saw him play at Rouse Hill in the pre-season would have to be amazed at the progress he has made.

I'm hanging on for the ride..reckon if he gets to be holding down a spot in '11 we've invested well.A good 5 years from him..starting from scratch and cost us buggerall.
Don't anyone think Roos played him this year for any reason than that he sees something, and so do I!

[liz]

No-one here is saying he will be a superstar or even guaranteeing that he'll make it but writing him off at this stage is just irrational.

"Irrational" is being kind.

[Captain]

I don't think you can claim "injury prone". He had that recurring groin (?) injury in his first two seasons, and with that behind him will hopefully build form and with a good pre-season show why he was taken first round.

Guess I was right