I Like Mike Pyke!

[DA_Swan]

Giles was taken in the Rookie Draft - seems they kept him instead of Cunningham !!!

[GongSwan]

Giles was taken in the Rookie Draft - seems they kept him instead of Cunningham !!!

Seems they were well stacked with potential midfielders, but needed a ruckman. Seems they did ok out of the draft, and so did we

[longmile]

Mike Pyke is a great physical and offensive player. Hope they continue to utilise him when Mummy's back as the second ruck. He's a pretty good forward as well, will make a strong contest

[GongSwan]

Mike Pyke is a great physical and offensive player. Hope they continue to utilise him when Mummy's back as the second ruck. He's a pretty good forward as well, will make a strong contest

Arguably adds more to teh forward line than LRT and we can't expect Mummy to come back in and do 80% of the ruckwork. He's had a few weeks off and might take a few games for the big man to get back to top gear

[SimonH]

Obviously given a choice, there are few who would doubt we'd keep Pyke and delist/trade Seaby at the end of the year.

I have my doubts as to whether we need a further young ruck in 2013 beyond the 2 that would then be on our list (plus the anomaly that is Jesse White, and add in any young stringbean who we can get for nothing in the rookie draft and put some development into). But if I'm wrong and we do need another one, I've got a free one for us: Daniel Currie. Saw him playing for North Adelaide in the SANFL on the TV last week (broadcast at 2:30am Thursday ABC1, get your recording devices onto it), and his strength and positioning is clearly AFL standard (especially once back in the AFL coaching system) for my money. Played on arguably the best ruck in the SANFL (and another ex-Swan) James Meiklejohn (who is getting on now, so wouldn't qualify for consideration), and he held his own. Plus he offers a bit around the ground.

Other clubs weren't lining up to take him after we delisted, because other clubs generally weren't lining up to take any rucks. Apart from his injury woes, Currie started a career as an understudy ruck, at just the wrong time-- when rule changes have meant that clubs have gone from having 4 specialist rucks on their list, to having only 2-3. Hence there are a lot of unemployed/underemployed rucks now running around in state leagues (or possibly lower), who just 4 years ago, would have been on an AFL list. So if we decide we "want a Giles", there are no shortage of options IMO. Giles wasn't found under a rock-- he was simply the outstanding ruck in the SANFL in 2010 (and then spent 2011 with GWS in the NEAFL).

[GongSwan]

White will be delisted this year, I believe his contract is up, and would be fodder for GC. Seaby might get booted as well, although I think he's a chance to stay. We still need a third ruck, and I think they will be looking at options for a tall mobile younger bloke to develop. Possibly in the draft or as a rookie

[Dosser]

White will be delisted this year, I believe his contract is up, and would be fodder for GC. Seaby might get booted as well, although I think he's a chance to stay. We still need a third ruck, and I think they will be looking at options for a tall mobile younger bloke to develop. Possibly in the draft or as a rookie

From memory, White had a couple of blinder games just before his contract came up last time, so I think we threw a lot of money to keep him from GC. If we get rid of White, we may have a bit of $ in the bank to splash around on someone who plays football.

[DamY]

Is Seaby really necessary? I'm not sure what his stats are against Pyke, but Pyke seems to be a bit more versatile than Seaby. Pyke made a lot of second and maybe even third attempts which I find encouraging. The lasting image I have of Seaby is having a nice stroll after rucking during the Richmond game.

[GongSwan]

To be fair, in the Richmond game, there was strolling going on by more than one player. I just don't think Seabs has the tank for a ruckman in today's post sub rule game at the top level

[Primmy]

Is Seaby really necessary? I'm not sure what his stats are against Pyke, but Pyke seems to be a bit more versatile than Seaby. Pyke made a lot of second and maybe even third attempts which I find encouraging. The lasting image I have of Seaby is having a nice stroll after rucking during the Richmond game.

I would rather have a stable of three rather than a stable of two ruckmen. Pinch hitters are ok, but.....having a ruckman who can play either end as well is a bonus.

[caj23]

I think Seaby might be done at the end of this year

As others have mentioned he just doesn't seem to have any mobility since his breaking his ankle. The fact that he failed a medical with Port is a further pointer to that.

Pity because he was looking good prior to the injury at the beginning of 2010

[DamY]

I would rather have a stable of three rather than a stable of two ruckmen. Pinch hitters are ok, but.....having a ruckman who can play either end as well is a bonus.

I agree, but I think we should look at younger ruckmen.

[wolftone57]

Why would we throw all that development in Pyke out the door and trade him. He can easily play that 2nd ruck/forward role and No1 when Mummy needs a rest or is injured. While I don't know what the coaches are thinking I couldn't imagine that Pyke will be going anywhere.

Pykie will stay and I agree with you Al that he sould play in the same team as Mummy. Though not always! I believe in horses for courses and sometimes it is better to have that extra fast running mid, HB or forward. But I do agree it is time to look at a young ruck in the next draft.

[wolftone57]

White will be delisted this year, I believe his contract is up, and would be fodder for GC. Seaby might get booted as well, although I think he's a chance to stay. We still need a third ruck, and I think they will be looking at options for a tall mobile younger bloke to develop. Possibly in the draft or as a rookie

We do need to look at a young ruckman to develop as Pykie is 28 not 20 or 23. Mummy is younger and he will need help in the years to come. I like Currie and this new Academy kid Naismith on first outing. I would like to see him in a few games to get a better look. Jesse & Seabs are probably standing on parchment at the moment. Doggie will stay as a senior development player unless he decides to go. Brett Meredith must be close to being culled even though he has been pretty good in the Two's. I think it is about what he doesn't show more than what he does! Eugene has been on the rookie list for a while now and I really can't see him getting a birth. Just not quite up to AFL level! There are better prospects on the rookie list.

[swansrob]

How old is Jamar? Free agent at the end of this year, may be keen to leave the trainwreck that is MFC?? Also, Warnock is out of contract - would he be worth a shot?