Has Pyke peaked?
- Friday, October 12 2012 @ 10:00 am ACDT
- Contributed by: Brett Northey
- Views: 3,347

The rise and success of Canadian Mike Pyke for the Sydney Swans has now been well documented. An article that got solid coverage in Canada had a headline that he lead the Swans to victory in the AFL grand final and that attracted some criticism in one particular online news site. However that's a fairly narrow semantic arguement. Although he didn't dominate the match, there's no doubt that ruck is a key position and to play well when left with no backup in the final quarter of a suffocatingly tight grand final means by my personal definition he certainly was one of the players who lead the Bloods home.
So his brief career has reached a high point. But there may now be a nasty epilogue to season 2012. When all players in Sydney's squad are fit and firing, the 28 year old Pyke is clearly the Swans' number two ruckman. Many clubs now only play one ruckman, but coach John Longmire chose to play his 200cm Rugby convert as a big target in the forward line and then relieving in the ruck. He kicked 8 goals in 18 games this year and indeed provided a solid target to bring the ball to ground, occasionally also pulling in a strong mark, as well as leading the ruck on occasions.
However, the Swans have made a big play for enigmatic Adelaide forward/ruckman Kurt Tippett and are now in pole position to obtain the 25 year old. That could put Pyke in a very tough spot.