Mike Pyke..admiration society

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  • satchmopugdog
    Bandicoots ears
    • Apr 2004
    • 3691

    Mike Pyke..admiration society

    Just watched the press interview that Mike was part of yesterday.

    He spoke beautifully. Great enunciation, confidence, insightful, flowing and able to think on the run, related well to the journalists, a touch of humour.

    What came through to me is the idea of him being a coach, specifically a ruck coach. He would have a different perspective to others and would be highly aware of the basics as compared to someone who grew up playing the sport and doesn't really know how they learned to play..you just did it. His communication skills are excellent.

    Maybe Steve Taubert can hand over "The Ruck Whisperer" mantle.

    I think I am obviously biased toward Mike as I stand in awe of someone with that amount of determination, and the courage to make the leap of faith he did in his life. That is no easy feat.

    This tends to temper how I assess his game each week. I know he makes mistakes, but so does everybody. He tries his hardest every week and leaves nothing and he has improved so much.
    "The Dog days are over, The Dog days are gone" Florence and the Machine
  • dimelb
    pr. dim-melb; m not f
    • Jun 2003
    • 6889

    #2
    Well said satch; I too think he is defined by courage and determination. He strikes me as a serious and thoughtful man who wears his gifts lightly and with humour, and I think you may well be right about a job as ruck coach.

    He is continually underrated but performs at a high level almost every week, and only a very good player could rise to the occasion as he did in the 2012 GF.
    He reminds him of the guys, close-set, slow, and never rattled, who were play-makers on the team. (John Updike, seeing Josh Kennedy in a crystal ball)

    Comment

    • Mug Punter
      On the Rookie List
      • Nov 2009
      • 3325

      #3
      Couldn't agree more with the above posts.

      There has been a bit of noise on here about his efforts this year but I think he has been pretty solid and is still improving.

      Given his late start to the game I could see him playing on for 3-4 years past this one

      Comment

      • Doctor
        Bay 29
        • Sep 2003
        • 2757

        #4
        Pykey would have to be one of THE most unlikely 100 game players in VFL/AFL history.
        Today's a draft of your epitaph

        Comment

        • Meg
          Go Swannies!
          Site Admin
          • Aug 2011
          • 4828

          #5
          Some nice words from Taubert about Pyke.
          ?Taubert, a former Swans ruckman, admits when he first laid eyes on Pyke in 2008 he thought he had no hope." ?I didn?t realise just what sort of a young man he was. He shouldn?t have been able to do it. I?ve seen a lot of athletes from other sports come and go but very, very few are able to have success. Michael was different, what he?s achieved is incredible.?
          No Cookies | Herald Sun

          Comment

          • dejavoodoo44
            Veterans List
            • Apr 2015
            • 8637

            #6
            Yes, I too am a member of the Mike Pyke Admiration Society.

            Comment

            • Mountain Man
              Regular in the Side
              • Feb 2008
              • 908

              #7
              I spent a year on West Coast Canada just when Mike was starting with the Swans. I have always taken an interest and join the admiration society.

              Comment

              • Auntie.Gerald
                Veterans List
                • Oct 2009
                • 6480

                #8
                Bellchambers 2016 ?
                "be tough, only when it gets tough"

                Comment

                • Conor_Dillon
                  On the Rookie List
                  • Jun 2013
                  • 1224

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Auntie.Gerald
                  Bellchambers 2016 ?
                  In the NEAFL maybe!
                  Twitter @cmdil
                  Instagram @conordillon

                  Comment

                  • ernie koala
                    Senior Player
                    • May 2007
                    • 3251

                    #10
                    I'm also a Pike admirer.

                    His ruckwork has been really good, really consistent.

                    But his form in general play has been poor this year compared to the previous 2 or 3 years.

                    Hopefully his contested marking, goal kicking etc will pick up as the season progresses....

                    We will need him firing on all cylinders come September.
                    Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect... MT

                    Comment

                    • Hotpotato
                      Senior Player
                      • Jun 2014
                      • 2271

                      #11
                      OK , I will join the Pyke Cult .
                      No smiling in this society though , no laughing , crying , grimacing or levity .
                      That's the Pyke way .

                      Comment

                      • Velour&Ruffles
                        Regular in the Side
                        • Jun 2006
                        • 898

                        #12
                        I am getting a bit worried for Mike. He is pretty skilled in the ruck contests, but he doesn't seem to be holding his marks in the same way as he did in 2012 and 2013. The around the ground contribution is getting more and more important for ruckmen and his is going backwards rather than forwards. I love his story and I want him to succeed (just check my past posts if you don't believe me) but something is not right at the moment. I'm happy to be torn down for this, but could it have anything to do with the fact players can't wear gloves as they did a few years ago (when he was leading contested marks for the entire league)? Or maybe it is the absence of the Big Mummy as a foil? I know the prevailing "wisdom" is that you can't have two ruckmen in a team, but the Swans never looked better than when we had both Mummy and the Canuck in the team.
                        My opinion is objective truth in its purest form

                        Comment

                        • chalbilto
                          Senior Player
                          • Oct 2007
                          • 1139

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Velour&Ruffles
                          I am getting a bit worried for Mike. He is pretty skilled in the ruck contests, but he doesn't seem to be holding his marks in the same way as he did in 2012 and 2013. The around the ground contribution is getting more and more important for ruckmen and his is going backwards rather than forwards. I love his story and I want him to succeed (just check my past posts if you don't believe me) but something is not right at the moment. I'm happy to be torn down for this, but could it have anything to do with the fact players can't wear gloves as they did a few years ago (when he was leading contested marks for the entire league)? Or maybe it is the absence of the Big Mummy as a foil? I know the prevailing "wisdom" is that you can't have two ruckmen in a team, but the Swans never looked better than when we had both Mummy and the Canuck in the team.
                          Travis Cloke still wears a glove, so they must still be allowed to wear them.

                          Comment

                          • Velour&Ruffles
                            Regular in the Side
                            • Jun 2006
                            • 898

                            #14
                            Originally posted by chalbilto
                            Travis Cloke still wears a glove, so they must still be allowed to wear them.
                            Thanks. I avoid watching the Pies as much as possible so hadn't noticed that. Maybe Pikey should consider reinstating his.
                            My opinion is objective truth in its purest form

                            Comment

                            • chalbilto
                              Senior Player
                              • Oct 2007
                              • 1139

                              #15
                              I agree. It can't hurt.

                              Comment

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