Mike Pyke..admiration society

[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.

[Hotpotato]

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

[ernie koala]

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.

[Conor_Dillon]

Bellchambers 2016 ?

In the NEAFL maybe!

[Auntie.Gerald]

Bellchambers 2016 ?

[Mountain Man]

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.

[dejavoodoo44]

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

[Meg]

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.?
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[Doctor]

Pykey would have to be one of THE most unlikely 100 game players in VFL/AFL history.

[Mug Punter]

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

[dimelb]

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.

[satchmopugdog]

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.