World Footy News

The Sydney Swan's Dennis Carroll Trophy for Most Improved Player was last night awarded to Canadian Mike Pyke. This award is decided by the Match Committee and is based on votes in 2010 compared to 2009, among other criteria.

Pyke, 26, played International Rugby Union for Canada before moving to Australia in 2008 to try his hand at AFL with the Swans. This year he played 18 senior games, developed his all-round game and skills, and held down the number two ruck position.

The night's main award, the Bob Skilton Medal (for the club's best player in 2010) was won by Kieren Jack, completing a fairytale rise from budding rugby league junior to elite AFL midfielder.
The night proved vindication for the Swans bold recruiting policies, with Jack taking out the Award with a total of 553 votes ahead of two players in their first season with the Club - ruckman Shane Mumford in second place with 545 votes, and midfielder Josh Kennedy in third place with 542 votes.

In a standout year, Sydney born-and-raised Jack led the Club in tackles, was ranked third overall for kicks, fourth overall for disposals, third for contested possessions and second for inside 50s. He also booted 21 goals, ranking him fifth overall at the Club.

Jack, 23, did not play Australian Football until he was 12, and was rookie-listed by the Swans at the end of 2006. He made his debut in 2007 and has now played 71 games for the Club.

Jack, who recently signed a three year deal with the Swans, developed this season from a defensive midfielder used to stop opposition players into a damaging attacking player. He was seventh in last year's Club Champion but took his game to another level this season, particularly in the second half of the year.

Mumford, 24, who finished second in the polling despite missing three games during the season, has been an extremely valuable recruit for the Club since he came from Geelong at the end of 2009. He held down the number one ruck position and impressed with his hard work at ground level, as much as his tap work.

Kennedy, 22, also had a stellar year after being traded to the Swans from Hawthorn at the end of 2009. Kennedy had only played 13 senior games in three seasons at the Hawks, but he became a vital part of the Swans midfield and played all 24 games this season.

Not only was he third in tonight's Club Champion polling, but Kennedy also took out the prestigious Paul Roos Award for Best Player in the Finals after brilliant performances against both Carlton in the Elimination Final and the Western Bulldogs in the Semi-Final.

Pyke was also featured today in an article in the Winnipeg Free Press - http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/spor...75794.html