Mike Pyke

[GongSwan]

As a league man, since age 4, growing up at Belmore oval, home of the Bulldogs, and going to at least 2 games a week until I moved to Wollongong, I can't see today's league players taking less than 3 or 4 years to adapt, mainly due to the fitness and endurance needed to play at AFL level. I'm not bagging the individuals, they just have a completely different body shape and training methods. Pyke on the other hand, has some natural talent, or so it appears, and Union is a much more mobile sport than league, as u move from one ruck or maul to the next, constant phases of play. So his engine would have been better to start with. If I were with GWS, I'd be looking at the NSW WAratahs backline, or any super rugby teams backline, not so much the forwards hehe. I like Mike, he has a go, still sometimes I wonder if the experience of Seaby in a young side might be of benefit. I guess if I knew everything I'd be on the selection panel

[mcs]

I wonder if Hunt/Folau saw Pyke's set shot for goal. He looked very assured, and he put it straight through the middle! It's a testament to his work ethic as much as anything. I'm not sure if the NRL players will have the same desire to succeed given they are already making plenty of $$$ and are already stars in their native sport. It is tough mentally to have to start all over again. I think Hunt is more likely to make it than Folau, but it wouldn't surprise me if both went back to NRL. And it deprives league of two of their superstars as well, it's a massive gamble.

But, this thread is for Pykey! Canada's most underrated export.

Pyke has the potential to be a very good leading forward as he looks very composed from a set shot. I love the progress he has made at the club,and he is fully deserving of being in our best 22. He still has plenty of improvement in him yet but I love watching him play and its been wonderful to see him develop into an AFL standard player!

[707]

Pyke's alright. Think he should stay in the team and be developed as a FF/ruck. His tap work is excellent and he is growing in ability every game.

That may force a rethink on Jesse

[Triple B]

I'm not bagging the individuals, they just have a completely different body shape and training methods. Pyke on the other hand, has some natural talent, or so it appears, and Union is a much more mobile sport than league, as u move from one ruck or maul to the next, constant phases of play. So his engine would have been better to start with....

You do realise Pyke was the Canadian fullback?

[ernie koala]

i do enjoy the canadian rendition of the song as the camera pans around, unrelated to that did anyone see longmire singing the song while pouring over some print outs. Looked like the dad mucking round with the kids while he tried to work.

Yeah it was odd. It was a half arsed effort. Surely he can join the circle and sing with gusto, it takes all of about 30 seconds.
Now I've got 2 things to whinge about with Horse....Sub selections and a lousy effort singing. But as with all things footy, if they keep winning...who cares.

[dimelb]

And here's something else Mike can do. The picture, not the article.
Back and blue
And as I said on the Pike/Seaby thread, on Saturday Mike had the highest percentage of hitouts to advantage.

[Triple B]

And here's something else Mike can do. The picture, not the article.
Back and blue
And as I said on the Pike/Seaby thread, on Saturday Mike had the highest percentage of hitouts to advantage.

But that's not Mike, the paper say's so....

Seriously, they're 0/2 this morning...lol

[dimelb]

But that's not Mike, the paper say's so....

Seriously, they're 0/2 this morning...lol

Talk about under the radar ...
I went back and checked the hard copy, and there's no caption for the pic - better to be silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

[magic.merkin]

That kick from 50 wowWEE! A project no longer, he is competing well on a level playing field with the rest of the clubs listed players. And that's a massive credit from where he has come from.

[Hartijon]

Was lucky enough to work with a Canadian who was at the same High school as Mike. He was an all round Star ,excelled at every sport and track and Field. That got me on his bandwagon as to me it was just putting in the game time and training time (maybe 3 years) and we would have ourselves a bargain basement ruckman. He has exceeded all my expectations and talk about him being a KPP is not so foolish anymore.Great Stuff Mike!

[TheHood]

Super happy for Mike. He's clearly got the tools to excel at most sports and why else would he have EVER been elevated to seniors if he hadn't work hard to translate that into a bona fide AFL player.

His game was fantastic all day long at Manuka. I am hoping that in 2011 we can see Mike go and get the ball for himself; get more time around the ground, 2nd and 3rd efforts, marks on the wing and even maybe a bit of space and a bounce!

On another matter; I am not unhappy to see Jesse back in the ressies. He was coasting and I though in general he was playing without the ticker required for an AFL player and a Swan.

[ugg]

Pyke's drop punt is very solid, ball drop, follow through all excellent. I was very confident when he lined up from 50 having seen his set shots at reserves level. Only problem is he is so deliberate about the how process you can almost see the cogs ticking over in his mind. Which is okay for a set shot as you have all the time in the world but during play he won't be afforded such a luxury.

[Triple B]

..Which is okay for a set shot as you have all the time in the world but during play he won't be afforded such a luxury.

As we saw clearly when he grubbered the ball from 20m out in the last quarter, injuring himself in the process...

[Big Al]

Pyke's drop punt is very solid, ball drop, follow through all excellent. I was very confident when he lined up from 50 having seen his set shots at reserves level. Only problem is he is so deliberate about the how process you can almost see the cogs ticking over in his mind. Which is okay for a set shot as you have all the time in the world but during play he won't be afforded such a luxury.

Very true. However he is improving at such a rate that these kicking instincts will come to him. The fact he goes through this process demonstates his work ethic in getting the fundamentals right. I just think he's such am amazing story and is quickly becoming my favourite player because of it.

[Triple B]

.....is quickly becoming my favourite player because of it.

He's already got my missus hooked. She's pretty pissed that she can't get a 'Mike Pyke' badge for her scarf. They never have any when she goes to the outlets at the game...