Changes Round 13 V PORT

[Plugger46]

Full marks to Derickx for his workrate and competitiveness. He's been useful while we've needed him but he's one of the more limited footballers I've ever seen.

[Ludwig]

It will be fascinating on the Pyke v Derickx decision. I think a lot on here are overrating Pyke's work for us on the basis of his last quarter in 2012. He was a very good contested mark in the forward line in the first half of 2013 but when a fit mummy came back it was obvious that mummy was far and away a better footballer, covered more ground had more impact on contests and was comprehensively the better ruckman.

Pyke has his skills but his ruckwork is highly predictable for both teams - he taps directly in front of the contest about 80% of the time and he clearly at least in my opinion, struggles to run out games as the number 1 ruck. As a resting ruck he is three times the player that derickx is forward of centre, but not much better behind the ball in the traditional ruckmans position as he gets to a reasonable number of contests but is simply not as good marking the ball in those circumstances.

He is a better tap ruckman than derickx who in my view plays the game like a poor man's mummy. all heart and body and crashing into people and trying to open up passages. But as someone who is there to negate and block and scrap and scrag I would choose derickx every time because he understands his role and doesnt try to do more than that.

And I suspect pyke would have been beaten at just as many centre bounces as day and mcintosh beat derickx - our centre square work really is never very good. it is around the ground where our rucks shine best and I lean towards Pyke but not by all that much at all.

I don't think it is at all clear that pyke fits our team better than derickx, although our team absent tippett he probably does. If tippett out he comes in. If tippett plays then i lean pyke but it wouldnt take much for me to have my mind swayed.

I agree with much of your assessment, except that I rate Pyke a better ruckman than you have. I will have to watch more closely to see how predictable his tapwork is.

You might recall that there was considerable debate last year about who was the better ruckman between Mummy and Pyke. They have different techniques, but thought Pyke's ruckwork was more effective overall, despite Mummy's bollocking around the contests. The thing that tipped the scales in Pyke's favour, IMO, was his strong marking and goal kicking, something that's been absent this year.

To be fair, Pyke had an interrupted preseason and just when he seemed to be getting it together, he strained his hamstring. So we can only hope that he can return to last year's form. If he does, I rate him as a one of the better ruckman going around.

Derickx has come around more than I thought he would and has done an admirable job filling in, but I don't think he's in the same league as Pyke. Even though Tom was generally beaten by Smith, I thought it was his best game and is looking more comfortable at AFL level. His kicking is not bad at all.

I think the call on who plays this week will depend on how they look at training. I feel that regardless of whether Tippett comes up, we should only play one legit ruckman and have Reid fill in. PA only have one ruckman as well, so it's even on that account. More worried about Port's run and prefer that we have another midfielder to match their balance.

[liz]

What Derickx has brought to the side is good endurance. He has been able to act as ruck battering ram for very long periods of games, maybe not particularly effective but at least limiting the opposition's ability to direct taps to their midfielders. That means that Reid has only needed to play short minutes in the ruck. Does Pyke have the same endurance, especially given his interrupted pre-season and now his hamstring injury?

[Matt80]

I agree with much of your assessment, except that I rate Pyke a better ruckman than you have. I will have to watch more closely to see how predictable his tapwork is.

You might recall that there was considerable debate last year about who was the better ruckman between Mummy and Pyke. They have different techniques, but thought Pyke's ruckwork was more effective overall, despite Mummy's bollocking around the contests. The thing that tipped the scales in Pyke's favour, IMO, was his strong marking and goal kicking, something that's been absent this year.

To be fair, Pyke had an interrupted preseason and just when he seemed to be getting it together, he strained his hamstring. So we can only hope that he can return to last year's form. If he does, I rate him as a one of the better ruckman going around.

Derickx has come around more than I thought he would and has done an admirable job filling in, but I don't think he's in the same league as Pyke. Even though Tom was generally beaten by Smith, I thought it was his best game and is looking more comfortable at AFL level. His kicking is not bad at all.

I think the call on who plays this week will depend on how they look at training. I feel that regardless of whether Tippett comes up, we should only play one legit ruckman and have Reid fill in. PA only have one ruckman as well, so it's even on that account. More worried about Port's run and prefer that we have another midfielder to match their balance.

If you can't decide at who is better between Pyke and Tom D, ask yourself whether Tom D could do this against the best team in all sports?

Rugby Canada - Mike Pyke Try vs. New Zealand - 2007 - YouTube

[Ludwig]

Does Pyke have the same endurance, especially given his interrupted pre-season and now his hamstring injury?

That's the question of the week. It's why we fans can't make determinations based on fitness and have to leave it to the medicos and coaches who are close to the situation. I'll be happy with whatever decision they arrive at.

[Ludwig]

If you can't decide at who is better between Pyke and Tom D, ask yourself whether Tom D could do this against the best team in all sports?

Rugby Canada - Mike Pyke Try vs. New Zealand - 2007 - YouTube

I think we've all seen that one Matt. But if there was ever a question who you would pick in a rugby match, that would be the sealer.

[Matt80]

I think we've all seen that one Matt. But if there was ever a question who you would pick in a rugby match, that would be the sealer.

You watch that highlight and you wonder why Pyke does not seen quicker on an AFL Field. That sprint was Jetta/Rohan stuff and the New Zealand outside backs could not gain metres on him.

Maybe it?s the lateral running and turning needed in AFL, maybe he was a younger man in 2007!

I?ve always thought with that pace that the Swans would have taught him to be a tall key defender instead of a ruckman.
He has made an excellent ruckman and surpassed all expectations from when he started.

[Zlatorog]

Tippet out for 2 weeks!

[CJK]

So Mike in for Tipo

[dimelb]

Tippet out for 2 weeks!

Tippett to miss next two matches

[shaun..]

Big game! But I'd prefer Membrey in for Tippo for the next two weeks. Gives him a couple to see his worth against a top team and a middle team..

[ernie koala]

Big game! But I'd prefer Membrey in for Tippo for the next two weeks. Gives him a couple to see his worth against a top team and a middle team..

I agree with you....

But I reckon the Swans will see this as good opportunity to ease Pyke back in, playing FF and doing some ruckwork for a couple of weeks, before resuming the No.1 ruck role on Tippetts return.

So unless there is other injuries...

OUT : Tippett

IN : Pyke

[shaun..]

I agree with you....

But I reckon the Swans will see this as good opportunity to ease Pyke back in, playing FF and doing some ruckwork for a couple of weeks, before resuming the No.1 ruck role on Tippetts return.

So unless there is other injuries...

OUT : Tippett

IN : Pyke

You're probably right and it seems the most logical choice but they've taken somewhat of a youth policy and rewarded reserves form.
One can only dream.. and then dream Membrey has a blinder!

[Melbournehammer]

I think we've all seen that one Matt. But if there was ever a question who you would pick in a rugby match, that would be the sealer.

Not only have we all seen it, I struggle to think of any occasions where mike has definitively beaten his opponent in a one on one sprint in the past few years. As a former rugby forward I speak with open prejudice, but full back is about the one position which requires zero endurance in a rugby game. short sprints sure. repeat efforts almost never. just wander around getting the ball and kicking it to make it someone else's problem. lazy buggers.

mike on the other hand plays a good game of afl but i havent changed my views on the question at hand. in essence liz's question is the question. By playing derickx you can probably include an extra runner. Can you do that with pyke ?

[churry]

I'd really like to see Membrey get a game as well but I think he will only come in if there is another injury this week. Lobbe is in good form and will be a tougher matchup all round this week.