Mike Pyke should be given a wrap

[Primmy]

I played Aussie Rules in NSW and had 50% ex pats from Mexico as the cockroaches call it. South of the border! The other 50% were soccer converts who wanted a more physical sport and Rugy League guys who were curious or could not make the local(high standard) side in Rugby League. The Soccer guys understood the forward nature of the game a lot quicker but the rugby guys understood the need to stop an opponent. They took longer to stop throwing the ball under pressure but were great at bursting through a pack. I always thought Mike was a real chance if he leant to think forward play and to be careful with his tackles and disposal.He is doing this..almost too careful with the tackles! He has tremendous natural attributes and the right attitude.He will make it!

Good call. Problem was that the amature umps in the lower leagues kept pinging him for his tackles, no matter how legal they were, because he is such a unit. My opinion is they have no idea of what a proper tackle actually is, but I digress. He has gone careful since which is perhaps what he has been told to do.

[Bas]

My father and Grandfather played for port .

I hope it was the finest port in Melbourne. I'm envious.

If we are giving Mike Pyke a big wrap...........................does that mean we are turning him into a Mummy?

[Primmy]

[wearebloods]

Looking @ the RWO game stats from the Hawthorn game, Pyke only had 38% TOG

Surely he's fit enough to play a higher % -> He doesn't necessarily need to be on ruck duty...just his presence on the field as an extra tall/being a pest to the opposition could be constructive.....more so then sitting on the bench eating chocolate frogs.

Anyone care to postulate why his TOG was minimal?

[ugg]

My guess would be he isn't versatile enough to play forward and be a genuine goalkicking option. I did see him one or two times in the backline on the resting ruckman.

[stellation]

Looking @ the RWO game stats from the Hawthorn game, Pyke only had 38% TOG

Surely he's fit enough to play a higher % -> He doesn't necessarily need to be on ruck duty...just his presence on the field as an extra tall/being a pest to the opposition could be constructive.....more so then sitting on the bench eating chocolate frogs.

Anyone care to postulate why his TOG was minimal?

Maybe Scott is dyslexic (just wanted to set him up for a dad joke)?

It is a pretty low figure for him to have played, obviously Mummy was on fire though. I think it might just be that he doesn't offer too much as a tall forward target, and we were in the game most of the way so there wasn't really a window for experimenting.

[RogueSwan]

My guess would be he isn't versatile enough to play forward and be a genuine goalkicking option. I did see him one or two times in the backline on the resting ruckman.

He would be a better option to fill a hole down back than Ted, but can he read the play well enough to position himself in front of a leading forward?

[ScottH]

Maybe Scott is dyslexic (just wanted to set him up for a dad joke)?

It is a pretty low figure for him to have played, obviously Mummy was on fire though. I think it might just be that he doesn't offer too much as a tall forward target, and we were in the game most of the way so there wasn't really a window for experimenting.

I'm pretty sure it was right, I remember thinking how low it was at the time.

[dimelb]

I'm pretty sure it was right, I remember thinking how low it was at the time.

Same TOG percentage in The Age.
And has been and can be useful down back.

He would be a better option to fill a hole down back than Ted, but can he read the play well enough to position himself in front of a leading forward?

Dunno, but a lot of defenders have that trouble!

[BSA5]

I'm perfectly happy with Pyke playing 38% TOG. He's not good around the ground, so he only needs to fill in for Mummy when needed. Makes perfect sense to me. No point sticking him in defence when all of our defenders and some of our midfielders are better than him at it, and no point playing him in the ruck for longer than necessary when Mummy is on fire. Just bring him on when Mummy needs a rest.

[dimelb]

And Jarrad McVeigh chimes in:

Pyke leads way for code converts - Official AFL Website of the Sydney Swans Football Club

[Hartijon]

Can we give him a rap rather than a wrap though?

[stellation]

Can we give him a rap rather than a wrap though?

I dunno- that sensitive Canadian skin under Australian skies? I think he might need a wrap AND a peel!

[Primmy]

Can we give him a rap rather than a wrap though?

Yeah, ok then.

[ugg]

Great tap by Pyke to McVeigh for a goal.

Interesting air handball though