Pyke's Possibilities

[undy]

I'm a big fan of Mike Pyke, but I'd hate to be in his shoes at the moment, especially with the first look we've had at the Swans substitute tactics.

How is he going to make the team again ?

[Primmy]

After seeing what he can do now, as against what he could do in his last game last year which was a big spike, is quite impressive. Those nervous handballs appear to be a thing of the past, he was reading the play, kicking on the run, and he was running with the flight at full pelt on one occasion. I haven't seen him ruck against true quality yet, and even next week it will be less than faaantastic against GWS. When he has a run against more established ruckmen, and with umpiring that is not afraid of him tackling (he is very good at that..) I will get more of an idea.

Still on the fringe of being a "project" but more a ruckman in waiting who can take a mark and is working towards a KP. They won't be on trading him in a hurry. And ruckmen get injured (witness last year, we would have been stuffed without him).

[Cephalik]

I think next week will be a good run for Pykie, playing against Giles who seemed more than capable when we played them a few weeks ago. Far more competition then he is likely to get against other teams in the league.

[dimelb]

It looks as if we are going to go with two ruckmen, so we wouldn't have to go as far as Seaby and Mummy both being out; if either went dow, Pyke would be in. And he could rest forward, take marks, kick goals. As he has done already. I would also like to see him given time on another tall down back, such as some other team's resting ruckman; if he picks that up as quickly as he has other stuff, he'd be an increasingly valuable player. In the meantime, he can learn all this in the twos.

[aardvark]

We got smashed at the ball ups/ throw ins when Mummy was off the ground. We need to play 2 Ruckmen and IMO Pyke is a better Ruckman than Seaby.

[Cheer_Cheer]

We got smashed at the ball ups/ throw ins when Mummy was off the ground. We need to play 2 Ruckmen and IMO Pyke is a better Ruckman than Seaby.

+1... I would take Pyke over Seaby.. Pyke has shown that his is on the improve. Seaby has shown his best.. Just my 2c...

[happy]

+1... I would take Pyke over Seaby.. Pyke has shown that his is on the improve. Seaby has shown his best.. Just my 2c...

make that 3

[Peace]

Seaby has played like 5 games for us?? I'd give him a little bit longer before saying he has hit his peak.... maybe i'm too nice.

[liz]

We got smashed at the ball ups/ throw ins when Mummy was off the ground. We need to play 2 Ruckmen and IMO Pyke is a better Ruckman than Seaby.

Hardly fair to judge Seaby on that, given he was sitting on the pine still the start of the final quarter, and White was rucking. I thought Seaby had some very significant touches when he finally got on the ground.

I don't quite understand the thinking behind Seaby being sub, and understand even less after reading Longmire's explanation. It sounds like they got to the ground and decided they had selected one tall too many in the team.

I didn't watch the Bombers Dogs game but I read that Hille and Ryder were the two most dominant players on the ground. Given we have two competent ruckmen (neither of whom is called Jesse) I hope we actually play them both for the whole game. If that means we are two tall, one of Reid or White will need to miss out at the expense of a running player. Or Goodes can play more in the midfield.

[Melbournehammer]

Hardly fair to judge Seaby on that, given he was sitting on the pine still the start of the final quarter, and White was rucking. I thought Seaby had some very significant touches when he finally got on the ground.

I don't quite understand the thinking behind Seaby being sub, and understand even less after reading Longmire's explanation. It sounds like they got to the ground and decided they had selected one tall too many in the team.

I didn't watch the Bombers Dogs game but I read that Hille and Ryder were the two most dominant players on the ground. Given we have two competent ruckmen (neither of whom is called Jesse) I hope we actually play them both for the whole game. If that means we are two tall, one of Reid or White will need to miss out at the expense of a running player. Or Goodes can play more in the midfield.

it wouldn't surprise me if we chose two ruckman on the assumption that jamar against white in the event of an injury would have been a significant loss for us. last year his ruckwork killed us and caused the first possession to be a massive problem. i am not actually against having a ruckman as sub because i reckon most sides will play 1 but when you are a ruck down you are pretty open to a terrible loss in the middle and every contest - was it st kilda who many years ago played a winger as ruck when tim watson was coach ?

i tend to think that if LRT gets back and if white retains his spot we may switch to a running player as sub against teams with one ruck or a non-dominant ruck but against the freos, dees and dons (to name but three) we may need the reserve to be there.

i am not sure about your suggestion though liz - ryder is seriously athletic and hille the classic big body. both of our rucks are the big body types. hudson is a big body type but was ground into the dirt according to my dogs friends - i would be more inclined to keep white and have him run on the ball with ryder when that happens.

[Robbo]

We got smashed at the ball ups/ throw ins when Mummy was off the ground. We need to play 2 Ruckmen and IMO Pyke is a better Ruckman than Seaby.

U mad bro?

Pyke showed some good signs last season but unfortunately with the sub rule there really isn't room in the side for a backup ruckman unless they can contribute around the ground a bit.

Jonathan Griffin went to Freo from Adelaide in the off season, he is an AFL standard tap ruckman but Freo didn't pick him because there was no room for him, and they needed someone like Bradley who can play at FF while not rucking. The only way Griffin will get a game for Freo this year is if Sandilands goes down.

[Primmy]

Robbo, the Canadian is now a fine ruckman. I have watched a fair bit of the ressies and his improvement graph is really impressive. I would rather Pyke ruck than Jesse. I don't know Pyke is a better player than Seaby, but I do think he matches him at least in his ruck skills.

The important thing to note is as I said previously, his rather awesome improvement in game awareness. I want to see him against a worthy opponent to make a final(ish) call, but I expect him to be good +rather than anything else.

[aardvark]

U mad bro? Pyke showed some good signs last season but unfortunately with the sub rule there really isn't room in the side for a backup ruckman unless they can contribute around the ground a bit. .

I'm willing to bet we don't have a Ruckman as Sub next week. Mummy can't play a whole game and White is pathetic as a Ruckman ( He had one hitout for the game ). Having said that Pyke has more upside than Seaby and his ruckwork is better.

I also think as the season goes on teams with 2 decent ruckmen will play both of them.

Oh...and i'm only slightly mad....

[laughingnome]

I'll back Pyke's ruckwork, but around the ground I think Seaby would offer more, especially up forward. I think that is borne out in the table below. Remember that Seaby was in stellar form for the opening 5 games he played. Pyke is a very VERY good 3rd ruckman to have, but will remain in the two's until such a time that;
a) One of Mumford or Seaby is forced out by injury/suspension,
b) Pyke's around the ground abilities equal or surpass Seaby's, either as a KP Forward or Back,
c) Pyke's ruckwork becomes so outstanding that he forces his way into the team on that alone.

The unfortunate thing is no one is sure how much more Pyke will glean from the NEAFL. In the last two years he's been required to play seniors (8 in 2009, 18 in 2011) and in my mind there is no doubt the higher level is partly responsible for his rapid development.


2010 Comparisons (averages):
*Brisbane not counted as a game as he played under 5 minutes.

[Velour&Ruffles]

I'll back Pyke's ruckwork, but around the ground I think Seaby would offer more, especially up forward. I think that is borne out in the table below. Remember that Seaby was in stellar form for the opening 5 games he played. Pyke is a very VERY good 3rd ruckman to have, but will remain in the two's until such a time that;
a) One of Mumford or Seaby is forced out by injury/suspension,
b) Pyke's around the ground abilities equal or surpass Seaby's, either as a KP Forward or Back,
c) Pyke's ruckwork becomes so outstanding that he forces his way into the team on that alone.

The unfortunate thing is no one is sure how much more Pyke will glean from the NEAFL. In the last two years he's been required to play seniors (8 in 2009, 18 in 2011) and in my mind there is no doubt the higher level is partly responsible for his rapid development.


2010 Comparisons (averages):
*Brisbane not counted as a game as he played under 5 minutes.

The stat I would like to see is the % of hitouts to advantage, not just number of hitouts. The stats may make a fool of me, but the naked eye suggests that Pyke is good on that front.