How good was Mike Pyke today?

[jono2707]

The main difference between Mike and Izzy is IQ - Mike seems to play with plenty of smarts for someone coming from where he came from; Izzy hasn't yet shown that he's learnt much. I think the Izzy experiment is a long way from working, whilst Mike is doing his thing really well and sticking it to the 'experts' who thought he'd never amount to anything. Gotta like Pyke...

[liz]

The main difference between Mike and Izzy is IQ - Mike seems to play with plenty of smarts for someone coming from where he came from; Izzy hasn't yet shown that he's learnt much. I think the Izzy experiment is a long way from working, whilst Mike is doing his thing really well and sticking it to the 'experts' who thought he'd never amount to anything. Gotta like Pyke...

Pyke had the advantage of being allowed to develop in the reserves, and there was never any spotlight on him, or expectations of him. Folau might have the capacity to become a good AFL player in time (and the way some media pundits have written him off already really irritiates me) but it is very tough on trying to learn while playing at the top level and in such an inexperienced team.

[dimelb]

Longmire's take on Pyke: "His ability to learn is probably second to none."
Here: One Dog no match for Swans

[ScottH]

Here's an interesting question, would Mike Pyke have made it if he came into the league today as opposed to 3 years ago?

I came up with this question whilst reading through the article on afl.com.au about whether Folau is going to make it in our game, and how Sheedy used Pyke as the example to follow and how it took Pykey four years to succeed. We also had Pyke featured during the half time (pre-recorded) interview where he told Tom Harley that in his first year the coaches told him to concentrate solely on the hitouts. When he was first selected in 2009, the interchange was in the old 4 on the bench sytem and hence we could afford the luxury of having a 2nd ruckman who spent most of his time resting on the bench rather than in the forward line. It's hard to imagine that any team could afford such a luxury now with the 3+1 system and hence it would have been extremely unlikely that we could carry a "1st year Pyke" whose job was solely to win his hitouts.

Also in the post match presso, Longmire was asked about Pykey's form and he said that if someone had asked him at the beginning of the year whether the Swans could play 2 ruckmen he would have said no. So it's a testament to Pykey's improvement and consistency that he's been able to change Horse's view on the structure of the team.

Izzy article - http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsartic...6/default.aspx

Oh and to answer ScottH's orignal question, pretty darn good. I love the way he charges into the packs and takes the contested mark.

They discussed Folau on MMM on the way to the game. Carey said "he's a great league player". End of story.

[BillyRayCypress]

Pyke set to play.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/145057/default.aspx

[ScottH]

Pyke set to play.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsartic...7/default.aspx

Good news!!

[Mountain Man]

I loved a comment made during the 1/2 time pre-recorded interview yesterday. Mike confirmed that, at his signing, Roos told him that he actually expected he (Pyke) would not become a successful AFL player. They were giving him a contract, but it was going to be that difficult.

It just confirms what a quality team we support. The coaches and administration are willing to take risks; the response by re-cycled players and this Canadian convert difficulties into successes.

[Yuri H]

Pyke set to play.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsartic...7/default.aspx

Thank gawd/dess/es/Elvis! I was just rushing RWO-ward to see if there was any news. I was v. worried last night when he hobbled off the field.

[jono2707]

Pyke had the advantage of being allowed to develop in the reserves, and there was never any spotlight on him, or expectations of him. Folau might have the capacity to become a good AFL player in time (and the way some media pundits have written him off already really irritiates me) but it is very tough on trying to learn while playing at the top level and in such an inexperienced team.

Agreed, but in comparison to Karmichael Hunt, Izzy seems to be lacking that real killer attitude and he doesn't really seem to want to be there. I have loved what Karmichael has done this year and he's made real progress, and what's more he looks like he wants to make it in the game. Pykey has been the same - he's taken to the game with a great combination of desire and a willingness to learn. I haven't seen that from Izzy yet which is probably what is disappointing so many people at this stage.

[barry]

Folau will not be released from his AFL contract next year. The AFL love this media attention.

And it will pay off big time, if he comes good. No one can make any calls about Folau until after 2013. Many people have been made to look foolish going early on K Hunt, and M Pyke. It takes time.

[Rod_]

Pleasing news that his twist shouldn't keep him out of next weeks game..

I can only agree, that he is a successful addition to our game. (And that I am impressed with his improvement and genuine skills!)

Rod

[DLBIA14]

Folau is an interesting case. Pyke and Hunt in crossing over appeared to have a genuine desire to invest the time and effort in learning the game and succeeding. Israel has already admitted that if he was thinking just about himself and not his family he would still be playing league. Far be it from me to judge, but I just don't think his heart is in it.

Anyway, Pyke's game was brilliant yesterday. I've been critical about our teams ability to take contested marks, but Pyke was a beacon of light in that regard. I love how confident he is up forward and even more so, I love how much of a dick he makes BT look with every game. His refusal to apologise shows how much of an arsehole he really is.

[Nico]

What no one has mentioned about Mike is this.....he kicks accurately because he didn't have bad habits coming into our sport. The height of his kicks at goal is not high but he has learned to kick straight. He drops and strikes the ball correctly. If he is 30 metres out in a GF, and after the siren needs to nail the goal, I'd be much happier that he has it than Goodes.

When I learned to play footy many moons ago you were taught to move the ball on. Whether that be a handball in front of you, tap on or kick to space then chase if there is no other option etc. In the 90's coaching Auskick all of a sudden the vogue was to take possession regardless of the situation to deny the opposition possession. There was a drill of tapping the ball infront of you and learning to control the footy in front of you on both sides of the body. Guess what, that drill was deleted. Watch Mike....when he marks he is always looking for the handball or to move it on. That deft tap to LRT in the last quarter was Skilton type stuff. He couldn't take clean possession so opened up the forward 30 for LRT. Why does he take marks in the forward line....because heplays in front. That mark he took running back in the forward line in the 3rd quarter was smart play because he gave our player a spot to kick it to. He does the old fashioned stuff because he is smart and reads the game well and he doesn't have his brain clogged up with preconceived ideas. He plays a simple commonsense game that works.

[Big Al]

Not that we needed proof but every time Pyke does well it just proves what a complete wanker Brian Taylor is.

[ScottH]

Not that we needed proof but every time Pyke does well it just proves what a complete wanker Brian Taylor is.

If you had watched the game last week on TV instead of pretending to be a brass monkey, Luke Darcy tried to get him to apologise for his comments every time Pyke got the ball.
Didn't happen.