Pykes tackling

[swanspant12]

Pykey had some goood pressure in the game on sunday and seemed to wrap his players up and pin them to the ground, as well as tackling juddy and pinning him for the holding the ball. He obviously doesn't posses the skills however his physical attributes and pressure are sure to be his keys.

[Go Swannies]

Pykey had some goood pressure in the game on sunday and seemed to wrap his players up and pin them to the ground, as well as tackling juddy and pinning him for the holding the ball. He obviously doesn't posses the skills however his physical attributes and pressure are sure to be his keys.

I was at the game and have only seen bits of the coverage but the commentators made the valid point that Pyke and Jack have rugby backgrounds so tackles stick.

[dimelb]

He learned to tackle in Rugby Union - on the whole a good grounding for AFL, provided he doesn't take their legs out. His skills in that area are fine. From comments he's made before, I think it's the handballs he has to keep working on the most, but he's getting a bit of a workout there as well.

[Go Swannies]

He learned to tackle in Rugby Union - on the whole a good grounding for AFL, provided he doesn't take their legs out. His skills in that area are fine. From comments he's made before, I think it's the handballs he has to keep working on the most, but he's getting a bit of a workout there as well.

The next stage in his development will be to handball to someone other than McVeigh - he's got that move down pat. And it's spreading - even ROK passed off to McV at the weekend.

[satchmopugdog]

Just like Dunkley used to pass off to Schwatta.

[Bloody Hell]

The next stage in his development will be to handball to someone other than McVeigh - he's got that move down pat. And it's spreading - even ROK passed off to McV at the weekend.

That was happening alot between all the players. I thought they must have been instructed.

[goswannie14]

His first two tackles in the forst 5 minutes of the game were absolutely flawless, and they stick. Awesome to watch.

[goswannies]

provided he doesn't take their legs out.

@ 200cm he's more likely to take off their heads!!

[mcs]

"The next stage in his development will be to handball to someone other than McVeigh - he's got that move down pat. And it's spreading - even ROK passed off to McV at the weekend.
That was happening alot between all the players. I thought they must have been instructed. "

It was discussed in the match thread, but a lot of people and I do as well think ROK is clearly not fit, as he was kicking a lot with his right boot and favouring it almost completely- hence the reason for the handoff to McVeigh.

[ScottH]

The next stage in his development will be to handball to someone other than McVeigh - he's got that move down pat. And it's spreading - even ROK passed off to McV at the weekend.

That may have been when Mcv's opponent was right on his hammer, and there wasn't an opportunity. It is becoming a bit obvious.
But given his kick to Goodes last wekk, his kicking isn't too bad, so I'm surprised he doesn't have a kick more often.

[liz]

I reckon Pykey's been doing a fair bit of work on his tackling technique. Earlier in his development - and even earlier this season - he was prone to tackle too vigorously and either slip high or drive someone in the back. But last weekend, his technique looked pretty much flawless.

[Q...]

The next stage in his development will be to handball to someone other than McVeigh - he's got that move down pat. And it's spreading - even ROK passed off to McV at the weekend.

The thing I like most about Pyke is that he has a brain in his head. Although he often (if not usually) hands off to McVeigh, he assesses his options first. If the handpass isn't on, he doesn't give it. Even though it's obvious that that's his preference, I can't remember a time when he's given a handball "automatically" from a mark situation where it wasn't a useful option. The times when he's under pressure and he can't remember which hand you hold the ball with and which hand to hit it with is a different point. But that's quite funny to watch.

As ScottH points out, the boy can kick. Which, when combined with his brain, is probably why he's confident to not handoff (even though he usually does).

[Primmy]

I love watching his tackle. Its almost gentle. Wrap up victim in bearhug, lay down on ground, prevent movement of said victim. Never a thud, just an inexorable statement of "you are tackled". Said victims almost never argue the toss about it either. They seem to recognise it's fruitless.

MikePyke = HuggyBear.

[dimelb]

I love watching his tackle. Its almost gentle. Wrap up victim in bearhug, lay down on ground, prevent movement of said victim. Never a thud, just an inexorable statement of "you are tackled". Said victims almost never argue the toss about it either. They seem to recognise its fruitless.

MikePyke = HuggyBear.

Or Shelob!

[Q...]

I love watching his tackle. Its almost gentle. Wrap up victim in bearhug, lay down on ground, prevent movement of said victim. Never a thud, just an inexorable statement of "you are tackled". Said victims almost never argue the toss about it either. They seem to recognise its fruitless.

MikePyke = HuggyBear.

Gold! One of the most enjoyable things I've ever read. Encapsulates it perfectly, in such an articulate manner!