Mike Pyke should be given a wrap

[Damien]

I'm much more comfortable with Pyke as the backup ruckman, think he is learning a lot more being the 2nd stringer too.

[Primmy]

Not afraid to get his knees dirty either. Kid is doing ok.

[Glenn]

Developing nicely with his ruck work, now just to get the hand/foot disposal skills developed.

[CureTheSane]

Never understood the Pyke negativity.

On one hand people complain that we need frsh blood, but on teh other, people wanted Pyke out of the seniors.
Only one way to learn.
Otehr teams are way more in tune with putting players in to have a go.
Only times the Swans really do it is when we need to.
Someyimes a bit of game time at the top speed brings on the development faster.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

And fifthly Thugby is a term of affection, I'm a huge Storm fan who loves it when we thump the interstaters.

Didn't work on Friday night unfortunately.

JF

[aardvark]

Didn't work on Friday night unfortunately.

JF

I knew someone would dig this up eventually. LOL

[johnno]

Am very happy with Pyke at the moment...granted he's not setting the world on fire, but he's not proving to be a liability either. Excellent tap work, but thats all his game is at the moment, does nothing around the ground, occassionally pulls in a mark, but I'm happy to keep playing him.

[BSA5]

Pyke is doing perfectly well at the moment. The reason he's not doing much around the ground is that he's only playing 30-40% TOG. He's coming on to give Mummy a rest, that's it. To be honest, I'd rather Pyke take the lead ruck role in the ressies as far as his development goes. He'd learn more about where to go, what to do, etc. At the moment, all he's doing is tapping, which is great, it's what he's there for, but he knows how to do that, he's already one of the better tap ruckmen in the comp.

At the moment, we need Pyke in the team, and he's doing a good job. As soon as we don't (i.e. Seaby comes back, or Currie is ready), then he should go back to the ressies and keep plugging away and learning the game.

[dimelb]

Pyke is doing perfectly well at the moment. The reason he's not doing much around the ground is that he's only playing 30-40% TOG. He's coming on to give Mummy a rest, that's it. To be honest, I'd rather Pyke take the lead ruck role in the ressies as far as his development goes. He'd learn more about where to go, what to do, etc. At the moment, all he's doing is tapping, which is great, it's what he's there for, but he knows how to do that, he's already one of the better tap ruckmen in the comp.

At the moment, we need Pyke in the team, and he's doing a good job. As soon as we don't (i.e. Seaby comes back, or Currie is ready), then he should go back to the ressies and keep plugging away and learning the game.

I've asked this before - and got a 'yes' - but wouldn't it help Pyke simply to run (and compete of course) with his opponent when he isn't actually rucking? And isn't he doing a fair bit of that?

[Primmy]

I've asked this before - and got a 'yes' - but wouldn't it help Pyke simply to run (and compete of course) with his opponent when he isn't actually rucking? And isn't he doing a fair bit of that?

Yes, he is running more and more, and also getting his knees dirty.

IMO he is learning more in seniors than he can in ressies for a number of reasons. He is a senior football player, just not this code. He is a professional athlete. He has a big developed body that needs a big developed body to pit himself against. He needs senior umpiring to bring balance to his understanding of what is and what is not, not amateur umpiring that get spooked by him. I hope he gets as much senior work as he can. He sure has earned it.

[caj23]

Yes, he is running more and more, and also getting his knees dirty.

IMO he is learning more in seniors than he can in ressies for a number of reasons. He is a senior football player, just not this code. He is a professional athlete. He has a big developed body that needs a big developed body to pit himself against. He needs senior umpiring to bring balance to his understanding of what is and what is not, not amateur umpiring that get spooked by him. I hope he gets as much senior work as he can. He sure has earned it.

This is true and the scenario has been forced upon us by the injury to Seaby. I think Pyke has improved alot this year but he still has alot to learn and we lose a bit when Mumford is off the ground.

I would also like to see Currie get a senior game or 2 under his belt before the season is out, even if it has to be at the expense of the big Canadian

[KirkysSocks]

There were times yesterday that i thought Mummy was doing the ruck at stoppages and then realised it was Pyke! Even the lovely tap to McVeigh for that goal I thoguht it was mummy.

[BSA5]

I've asked this before - and got a 'yes' - but wouldn't it help Pyke simply to run (and compete of course) with his opponent when he isn't actually rucking? And isn't he doing a fair bit of that?

It would, but he'd get a lot more minutes at Canberra level. He was playing half the game in defence at ressies level this year, and look how much that seems to have helped his game. He is so much better at reading the play and getting involved now. I just wonder if a bit more of that might help him. I'm not asking him to be dropped now, he's doing absolutely fine and I'm a big fan of his, but if/when Currie is banging down the door, or Seaby returns, it will probably be in Pyke's best interests to go back to Canberra and continue studying, so to speak.

[SwansFan1972]

Yes, he is running more and more, and also getting his knees dirty.

IMO he is learning more in seniors than he can in ressies for a number of reasons. He is a senior football player, just not this code. He is a professional athlete. He has a big developed body that needs a big developed body to pit himself against. He needs senior umpiring to bring balance to his understanding of what is and what is not, not amateur umpiring that get spooked by him. I hope he gets as much senior work as he can. He sure has earned it.

Bang on target Primmy, well said!

[2005]

Im comfortable with saying he is still no good.

Nice tapout for a goal to Macca and that all she wrote.
Didnt have much opposition in the Rucking Department yesterday. RUCKED better again Sandilands than he went yesterday.