Mike Pyke should be given a wrap

[Primmy]

OK, I was looking through the threads, just seeing if any of the MikePyke knockers came on board and said Well Done for an extremely difficult and taxing job, considering the circumstances. Silence was the reply. So I am officially starting this thread to say Well Done Mike Pyke who has been thrown into the deep end and did not disgrace himself or the Swans.

[Big Al]

OK, I was looking through the threads, just seeing if any of the MikePyke knockers came on board and said Well Done for an extremely difficult and taxing job, considering the circumstances. Silence was the reply. So I am officially starting this thread to say Well Done Mike Pyke who has been thrown into the deep end and did not disgrace himself or the Swans.

I thought his Ruck work was terrific day. He can certainly hold his head high after todays performance.

[Damien]

A fair few people were positive about his ruck work in the Game Day thread.

I loved how he worked Sandilands at the taps, I thought it was great (pity our midfield failed to capitalise on the many 50/50 opportunities at stoppages) but I am still worried about him around the ground, he isn't presenting as a target and he doesn't seem equipped to make the smartest decisions under pressure. I don't think anyone should get carried away with his tap work, yes great that he did well, but we need a lot more out of him (that position) and I am not confident he can deliver. Maybe in 100 games he will prove me wrong, fingers crossed.

[Big Al]

A fair few people were positive about his ruck work in the Game Day thread.

I loved how he worked Sandilands at the taps, I thought it was great (pity our midfield failed to capitalise on the many 50/50 opportunities at stoppages) but I am still worried about him around the ground, he isn't presenting as a target and he doesn't seem equipped to make the smartest decisions under pressure. I don't think anyone should get carried away with his tap work, yes great that he did well, but we need a lot more out of him (that position) and I am not confident he can deliver. Maybe in 100 games he will prove me wrong, fingers crossed.

The good thing is that he's improving at such a rapid rate that maybe he will prove us all wrong. The Pyke of this time last year is certainly light years away from the one we're seeing now.

[Bas]

A fair few people were positive about his ruck work in the Game Day thread.

Primmy's eye sight is not as good these days. It's her age you know Combine that with a few stiff sherry's to calm the nerves after a 3rd loss and she just probably hasn't gotten that far through the posts.

[KirkysSocks]

Pyke will suffer the same as LRT. People's subjectiveness based on a few factors will always see him as useless in their eyes, no matter how far he has come. Must be the envy of seeing someone come up from a non afl background and playing a total of handful senior games whilst they were aspiring footballer to only fail. LRT suffers the same unwarranted negativity most times on here.

[Bas]

Pyke will suffer the same as LRT. People's subjectiveness based on a few factors will always see him as useless in their eyes, no matter how far he has come. Must be the envy of seeing someone come up from a non afl background and playing a total of handful senior games whilst they were aspiring footballer to only fail. LRT suffers the same unwarranted negativity most times on here.

Hit the nail on the head. Happy posting KirkysSocks.

[goswannie14]

Pyke will suffer the same as LRT. People's subjectiveness based on a few factors will always see him as useless in their eyes, no matter how far he has come. Must be the envy of seeing someone come up from a non afl background and playing a total of handful senior games whilst they were aspiring footballer to only fail. LRT suffers the same unwarranted negativity most times on here.

On the subject of LRT, once he was moved onto Pavlich, Pav wasn't sighted. Great work.

[Damien]

Pyke will suffer the same as LRT. People's subjectiveness based on a few factors will always see him as useless in their eyes, no matter how far he has come. Must be the envy of seeing someone come up from a non afl background and playing a total of handful senior games whilst they were aspiring footballer to only fail. LRT suffers the same unwarranted negativity most times on here.

I agree RE: LRT, I am still surprised at what he cops at matches no matter what he does. However, I am confused by your assertion that critques now and in the future on Pyke are and will be formed from envy? What the! I actually think most people would love Pyke to come along in leaps and bounds but let's remember that our last few ruckman (Jolly, Ball, Everitt) have been champions and our two new ruckman are also very handy, so the benchmark is there and people will make comparisons based on what they expect from a ruckman. He made a great improvement today, but he has a long way to go. I don't think he has played enough games, or shown enough, to warrant the LRT defence at all.

Assuming Currie is still a while away and we play two rucks next week, Pyke will have a easier time of it and less expectations in terms of his contribution around the ground. If he had come in today basically to help rest Mumford, and did the same job on Sandilands, his general footy play weaknesses wouldn't be so exposed, but they are what they are and until they are rectified and improved on, people will comment and continue to have reservations.

[sWAns63]

Good to see him given a go I've always supported him

[KirkysSocks]

However, I am confused by your assertion that critques now and in the future on Pyke are and will be formed from envy? What the!

I am sure the majority would love Pyke to be a great story, i know i do! But i have this impression that there is a small % that just can't accept that this is a guy who up until 2 years ago didnt have a clue about how to play rules, is a fast learning curve and now he is getting a gig in an AFL side. To a lot of people down south unless you were either born into rules or played all your life then you have no right to be successfull if you pick it up as a sport at a latter stage of your life. It's jelousy.

[KirkysSocks]

Hit the nail on the head. Happy posting KirkysSocks.

Thanks Bas.

[mcs]

Did well today I thought. If he can at least develop into a half useful defender, or a decent target going forward he could make it. He certainly has a decent kick on him. I'd keep him in for the Dorks next week and give him another go even with mummy back (Which imo will make a massive difference to how we are playing.)

[SimonH]

Fantastic performance. Even against arguably the best in the comp, showed that he really understands the essentials of ruckwork (which is, after all, what he's in the side for). He's never (any time soon) going to drift forward and kick 3 while resting on top of that, but he made contests and competed at ground level today better than probably 50% of rucks in the AFL. Much as I'd like to see what Currie's made of, Pyke is undroppable after that effort.

[swansrule100]

i was super impressed with ruck work. I thought he looked more confident with the ball today as well, one handed mark was good