Mike Pyke on fast track for Port clash

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Mike Pyke on fast track for Port clash

Friday, February 20 2009 @ 12:30 am ACDT
Contributed by: Michael Christiansen
Views: 5,188

While Mike Pyke may not be a flag bearer for the Canadian Northwind, he is nevertheless a key example - should he succeed - of the potential for slightly mature-age prospects to 'convert' to Australian football and make the AFL. From the International Cup, we've seen comments, especially from members of the US Revolution indicating they wondered how good they may have been with an earlier uptake of the game. Should Pyke succeed, does that open the door - just a fraction - to a more serious look at talented 21-23 year olds? The answer - perhaps, but only if they play Union (a vaguely similar sport), can run, jump, aren't too bulked up, and kick the ball better than average.

Last year the story broke that Canadian Rugby Full Back Mike Pyke was seeking a career in the AFL - with the Sydney Swans.

First step was a two year international rookie contract.

Now - after very limited intra club 'match practice', Pyke is set to play for the Swans in their Round 1 NAB Cup fixture this weekend against Port Power. Manuka Oval in Canberra, 3.40pm local time this Sunday.

News of his pending Australian Football debut has assisted the Sydney Swans in gaining some needed 'positive' early season press in Sydney - after the departure of Irishmen Tadhg Kennelly and Kyle Coney.

See articles in the Sydney Morning Herald and Daily Telegraph and more details from the Swans website.

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Mike Pyke on fast track for Port clash

Authored by: Eurofooty
on Friday, February 20 2009 @ 09:13 pm ACDT

With the recent introduction of the ELVs, certain aspects of the divide between Rugby and Aussie Rules has closened. It's not impossible that Rugby backs (particularly wing 3/4s + the Full back) could make a transition to professional footy (with conditions).

Mike Pyke on fast track for Port clash

Authored by: seanlacey
on Saturday, February 21 2009 @ 03:02 pm ACDT

Actually I think there is very little difference, at least at the fundamental level, between Rugby Union and Australian Rules.
If you take the offside rule out of Union, you very quickly have a game that closely approximate Australian Rules.
You can already kick forward in rugby, take the offside rule out and suddenly you can kick directly to a teammate in position as he no longer has to be behind the ball. aka Australian Rules. All the fundamentals are there already, heavy tackling, overhead contested marking, explosive runs, sharing the ball, they even throw in from the "boundary line". So the basic skill sets of a Rugby Union player fit perfectly with an Australian rules player. If you took the offside rule out of Union today, I wonder how long it would be until a rule change so that you could pass (by hand) forward rather than back! food for thought

Mike Pyke on fast track for Port clash

Authored by: Evan Read
on Sunday, February 22 2009 @ 07:34 am ACDT

Very interesting thoughts. I guess it is also the fact that the ball stays live while inbounds (no downs or tackle count) and kicking for goal is more common (not almost worthless) that makes the games "similar"?

Forward passing would be interesting. My first thought was it would make it more "Gridiron-y", but if the ball stays live, then you could see some contesting of the ball followed by a clearance (rather than an end to play).

I think, though, that the scrum would always remain which is major difference. There are also some body shapes that are wholly unsuited to a cricket oval sized ground and Australian Rules speed.

Mike Pyke on fast track for Port clash

Authored by: Michael Christiansen
on Sunday, February 22 2009 @ 03:34 pm ACDT

Of the Rugby codes, League has moved further from the Rugby original ideal that a try was but a means to score a goal. In RL, goals have all but been outlawed (okay, a little melodramatic - but, they've been hugely devalued, as well as kicking play).

Union, certainly is more a game of accumulating points. Field goals retain a worthy role, although it's still surprising that so few teams seem to value them. It seems that many regard the game as a try scoring game. Personally, I celebrated seeing Johnny Wilkinson KICK the English to victory in 2003. The allowance of worthwhile field goals also allows a different pressure upon defences, and therefore provides an extra means to open a hole in the defensive line.

Gotta remember, originally a try did not draw a points reward. But, because of too many drawn matches and even goalless draws, they applied effectively a count back on trys. It was logical then to count them directly with a points value, which, over time has increased above that of the goal.
At any rate - it reminds us of the various paths taken by football codes to avoid too many draws. In Aust Footy, we have behinds. I could see an argument that behinds ONLY be counted on countback should goals be level - otherwise, the winner be the side kicking the most goals. However, we count behinds as we go and accumulate a score rather than most goals.
Soccer of course, allow draws in large numbers....except when it really counts, and then introduce extra time and penalties.

Mike Pyke on fast track for Port clash

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Tuesday, February 24 2009 @ 08:44 pm ACDT

Always interesting to ponder how the different football codes diverged, often over small issues, e.g. it has been said that Rugby and Association Football (soccer) tried to prevent a separation but Rugby insisted on keeping the ability to hack someone's legs - then they got rid of the rule anyway. And interesting how small rules changes then led to further diversion, such as changes in how much tries/goals are worth, then leading to whole changes in the focus of sports (e.g. American football becoming a throwing game). It's almost like behinds becoming the primary scoring method if footy.

Back to the original topic - Mike Pyke had mixed reviews. Only a very few hitouts and possessions, but supposedly still in contention for a call up for Round 1, given Sydney's thin ruck stocks.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Mike Pyke on fast track for Port clash

Authored by: Michael Christiansen
on Saturday, February 28 2009 @ 09:45 pm ACDT

Mike Pyke watch - update : (lifted from AFL.com.au) SYDNEY SWANS coach Paul Roos has praised the performances of international rookie-listed players Mike Pyke and Brendan Murphy after the side's eight-point win over Melbourne at Visy Park on Saturday. The Swans defeated the Demons 9.9 (63) to 8.7 (55) in the first round of the NAB Challenge matches. Former Canadian rugby representative Pyke impressed in the ruck and

also chipped in with a goal, which earned the plaudits from Roos post-match. "I liked his goal – it was good. He's been terrific and he's still learning, but his ruck work has been really solid," Roos said. "Against some young ruckmen today he dominated the contests at times, so it's a real credit to him. But he's a bigger body than some of the younger kids he's playing. "But to pick up the game like he has, he's still unsure when the ball's on the ground and he's got to work on other areas. But he's made some significant advances for a guy who hadn't played the game up until a week or two weeks ago." By Matt Burgan 4:33 PM Sat 28 February, 2009

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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