Pyke

[alt_mattr]

I have been re-watching the grand final and the 2013 pre-season games and keeping a close eye on Pyke. He is now a really impressive ruckman and his marking is starting to look almost effortless (at least against the slightly less challenging NAB cup opposition). Is he now our best ruckman? He does not get in and under quite like mumford but overall I think he pips him. Note: I am not diminishing Mumford, he is as good as ever, but Pyke seems to be getting better

[aardvark]

Hopefully Mummy can have an injury free season and get back to his best. Pykes GF effort was sensational. Mummy at his best is still the better ruckman IMO.

[ScottH]

Pykes contested marking in the latter part of 2012 was exceptional.
Certainly on the way up.

[chalbilto]

Hopefully Mummy can have an injury free season and get back to his best. Pykes GF effort was sensational. Mummy at his best is still the better ruckman IMO.

Ditto. Sums up the 2 ruckmen. I am a huge fan of both of them but I think that Steve Taubert deserves credit not only for these two but think of Lewis Roberts-Thomson Darren Jolly, Daniel Currie, Mark Seaby, Jason Ball. Probably the best ruck coach around.

[aardvark]

Probably the best ruck coach around.

He eats jelly snakes. Obviously a quality person as well as the best ever ruck coach.

[Panttz]

At the end of the day though how are we going to fit all these big guys into the same side? Tippet, Mummy, Pyke, LRT, Goodes and potentially White.

Does anyone believe that White will be getting a posi unless any of those guys before him are injured?

[wolftone57]

At the end of the day though how are we going to fit all these big guys into the same side? Tippet, Mummy, Pyke, LRT, Goodes and potentially White.

Does anyone believe that White will be getting a posi unless any of those guys before him are injured?

I believe the two ruckmen were very valuable last season and on many occasions were the difference between us and the opposition who played a ruck and a fill in. For the first 11 games Tippett will not be available so he is not an issue until game 12 and he will have to have a few in the Two's and prove he is ready to step up. LRT, Goodes, Pyke & Mummy will start if all fit. If there is any doubt about any of the big guys fitness then Jesse will play. He has had a very good preseason and is looking very solid and athletic. I doubt if Jesse will play if all are fit. Tommy Walsh I see going back as we have plenty of good tall forwards.

If Jesse can get a few games under his belt this year and maintain the form he has shown in the preseason he should be retained. Mike Pyke is 30 next year and Jesse just 26 which for an athlete is quite young. I think the lad is a late developer but I did not want to take a risk on him in 2011 or last year. The thing is he started to impress me with his improvement in the Two's last year. I was sad when he looked set to go to the Crows as I thought he would play his best footy there. I think he has got plenty to learn but is getting there.

[alt_mattr]

At the end of the day though how are we going to fit all these big guys into the same side?

I think there is room for more mobile big men in the modern game. The big men get taller as everyone tires and the new(ish) interchange rules exacerbate this. As long as you don't give up too much at ground level (which you don't with Mummy and Pyke), the more the merrier I say!

[Ludwig]

Pyke's ruckwork is first class now, perhaps even better than Mummy's, although not as good at ground level. And agree that his marking has also reached a high standard. His kicking has a way to go. It is probably preferable to let Pyke do more of the ruckwork and have Mummy up forward as he is the far better goal kicker.

We have a real problem of fitting everyone into the side that deserves to be in the side. We will have real difficulty getting either Lamb or Mitchell in the side without injuries even without Tippett in the team. In a way the AJ injury helped solve what to do with LRT when Tippett comes in, as he will likely play in defence, but then what to about Tony, who also deserves a spot based on how he's been playing. Tippett is not a midfielder, but poses the dilemma of whether we can carry both Pyke and Mummy when he comes into the team, drop one of them, or drop a mid. But who?

[707]

Agree that Pyke made big strides last year and was very influencial in that magic game that still has me smiling. Glad it made that idiot Brian Taylor choke on his words.

Mummy is still the number one ruck but we now don't lose anything when Pyke changes into the centre.

Pyke has become a very good contested mark, a real asset to have in the team.

As to how we fit them all in, absolutely no idea and not sure the coaches are settled on how to manage the situation either, particularly when Tippett fronts for action later in the year.

[BillyRayCypress]

The introduction of limited interchange would revive the forward pocket rest again.

[Meg]

Longmire gives Mike Pyke a big wrap on today's video. Apparently this week will be Mike's 50th game. As Primmy said in a separate thread, a couple of Mike's taps to advantage were sublime last Saturday. What Pyke has achieved in such a short time, coming to AFL at such a late age, is amazing. He has been a great addition to the Swans.

[ScottH]

Longmire gives Mike Pyke a big wrap on today's video. Apparently this week will be Mike's 50th game. As Primmy said in a separate thread, a couple of Mike's taps to advantage were sublime last Saturday. What Pyke has achieved in such a short time, coming to AFL at such a late age, is amazing. He has been a great addition to the Swans.

Not to mention the mark below his knees.
Goldstein is also a giant so it was good to see him break even.

[Ajn]

Thought Pyke was not at his best, dropping a couple of sitters, etc. First two weeks were sublime though! 12 months of being a top line ruckman

[Melbourne_Blood]

Pyke

He should get paid a lot of the marks he doesn't , or at least get the arm chop free kick. He is very stiff in that department with the umps.