Mike PYKE

2015 Digest:   Found the going hard early last year when stepping up to be No.1 following the Mumford departure, then hurt a hamstring. Found form later in the season. On a modified program, but a lot further advanced than last year.

2015 NAB Cup:   After a quiet first NAB game he showed some good form against Fremantle’s ruck duet. Needs one of young talls to emerge as support.

2015 Season

Played for : Sydney Swans

1	Ess	Kept rolling in the ruck and held his own against Bellchambers.	5
2	Port	Won the ruck duel along with sidekick Tippett.	6
3	GWS	Had 10 hit-outs to advantage and at least matched Mumford in a key battle.	5
4	Frem	Competed hard and that was one reason why Sydney won the clearances.	5
5	WB	Monstered Cordy in the ruck and hit-outs to advantage gave midfield a chance.	7
6	Melb	Brilliant goal early got side going. Could have kicked three goals.	5
7	Geel	Broke even with Stanley. Had 10 hit-outs to advantage.	5
8	Haw	Battled Ceglar/Hale and struggled to impact the flow of the contest.	3
9	Carl	Lowered his colours to Wood in a battle of the dinosaurs.	3
10	GCS	Even battle with Nicholls in the ruck, but beaten around the ground.	4
11	NM	Dominated by Goldstein, and struggled with Brown. Form a huge worry.	1
13		Knee.
14	Port	Ruckwork OK but fresh air around the ground. That’s his achilles heel.	4
15	Bris	Rucked solo until three-quarter time when coached subbed him out. One kick.	2
16		Knee.
17	WCE	No match for Naitanui in the ruck. His form is absolutely horrible. Subbed out.	0
18		Knee.
19		Knee.
20	Coll	Kicked important goal and secondary ruckman to Tippett.	5
21	GWS	Got the better of ruck matchup against Phillips. Gave Swans’ first use.	6
22	StK	Snagged two goals in attack and did his bit in ruck.	5
23	GCS	Battled Dixon/Smith in the ruck. Helped side win the clearance count.	5
QF	Frem	Only five hit-outs to advantage and three kicks. Didn’t do enough.	2
SF	NM	Gave away free kicks all night. No Impact.	2

2014 Season

Played for : Sydney Swans

1	GWS	Looked stuffed by the end against old teammate Mumford. Will need help.	5
2	Coll	Kicked one goal but seemed to battle to get his teeth into the contest.	4
3	Adel	Had a great tussle with Jacobs and came out even.	6
4	NM	Like many teammates, struggled in the conditions. Shaded by Goldstein.	4
5	Frem	Struggling a little with his workload since Mumford's departure.	5
6	Melb	Quiet night in ruck and around the ground. Needs to lift.	2
7	Bris	OK until floored with sore hamstring in second term and subbed out.	4
8		Hamstring.
9		Hamstring.
10		Hamstring.
11		Hamstring.
12	NEAFL	Completely dominant in the ruck with 47 hit outs.	–
13	NEAFL	Dominant last week, serviceable this week.	–
14	Rich	Lacked touch and was involved in one farcical error.	2
15	GWS	Under a little pressure against Mumford, took a noticeable step up.	6
16	WCE	Went up against Eagles twin towers and was beaten but battled hard.	4
17	Carl	Broke his personal best for hit-outs in a promising night out.	8
18	Haw	Even battle in the ruck with McEvoy but will need to step it up a level from here.	5
19	Ess	Much improved game with contested marking.	6
20	Port	Good tussle with Lobbe in ruck winning 27 hit-outs.	5
21	StK	Had a picnic in the ruck and revelled in lack of pressure.	6
22	WB	Taught Campbell a lesson early in ruck then outpointed Cordy for rest of day.	7
23		Ill.
QF	Frem	Beaten as a ruckman but did his job around the ground, especially with his goal.	6
SF		–
PF	NM	More influence than Goldstein around the ground and nullified him in ruck.	5
GF	Haw	Rucked almost solo and 11 hit-outs to advantage but no impact.	3

2013 Season

Played for : Sydney Swans

1	GWS	Took some marks when forward and contested well in the ruck.	3
2	GCS	Pyke had 35 hitouts to be the dominant ruckman and added two goals.	7
3	NM	Lead ruck and combined well with Mumford to battle Goldstein.	5
4	Geel	Much better than Mumford and took some nice marks. Battled hard.	4
5	StK	Main ruck at the moment and doing it well.	6
6	Bris	Used his strong body to advantage all day. 21 hit-outs and two goals.	7
7	Haw	Only dangerous forward early but then went right out of the contest.	4
8	Frem	Playing as the No.1 tap man as Mumford builds, he had a great battle with Clarke.	6
9	Coll	Again did bulk of ruckwork. Snagged two goals and gets better all the time.	6
10	Ess	Worked well in tandem with Mumford against Essendon.	6
11	Adel	Quiet day but was good in the ruck when needed.	4
13	Port	Had a great battle with Lobbe winning 42 hit-outs.	7
14	Carl	Shouldered most ruck duties and pushed forward for an early goal. Solid.	6
15	Melb	Had 10 hit-outs to advantage and a goal, but only one mark. Just OK.	5
16	GWS	Along with Mumford wore down Giles to give Swans impetus in the midfield.	7
17	WCE	Did well to push forward for two goals.	7
18	Rich	Unobtrusive but solid ruck support to Mumford.	4
19	WB	Strong game and operated well with Mumford.	6
20	Coll	Used regularly up forward, he had zero scoreboard impact.	4
21	StK	Strong in ruck and booted two down forward.	5
22	Geel	Kicked three goals and was the best ruckman on the ground.	7
23	Haw	The secondary ruck, but did OK.	4
QF	Haw	Strong marking up forward made him look the most dangerous option.	5
SF	Carl	Carried big load ruck/forward and battled hard despite modest stats.	5
PF	Frem	Couldn’t get any flow or win the ball in dangerous positions. Only goal came late.	3
GF

2012 Season

Played for : Sydney Swans

2	NEAFL	Mostly rucked but also went forward. Kicked 1.3.	–
3	NEAFL	Strong showing as he was forced to ruck all day.	–
4	NEAFL	Controlled the ruck from the outset. Had a picnic.	–
5	NEAFL	Struggled in a game that he should’ve controlled physically.	–
6	NEAFL	Spent most of the game forward. Kicked three goals.	–
7	NEAFL	Rucked all day and was a driving force in the middle.	–
8	Melb	Lost ruck duels but did his job in negating Jamar and Clark around ground.	4
9	StK	Contested against depleted St Kilda ruck and was OK.	5
10	WB	Continues to adjust to AFL pace, roaming the ground and playing his role.	4
11	Ess	Willingly took on a heavy workload.	5
13	Geel	Great mark and goal early helped set side on its way. Good late as well.	5
14	GWS	Continues to hold his own in the ruck and provide a forward target.	5
15	Bris	The big Canadian continues to confound the critics.	5
16	WCE	Impressive. Kicked a goal and was a big target. Also rucked well.	6
17	StK	Did well to shoulder ruck burden after Mumford went off.	6
18	GCS	Dominated the hit outs but didn’t get much of the footy.	4
19	Carl	Spent latter stages on bench with lower leg problem.	4
20	Coll	Struggled with ankle injury earlier in the week but got involved.	5
21	WB	Just gets better and better. Kicked three goals and grabbed seven marks.	7
22	Haw	Grabbed four contested marks in another great aerial display. Handy enough.	6
23	Geel	No hit-outs to advantage and offered zero up forward.	2
QF	Adel	The unheralded success story of conversion to the game. Played his part.	5
PF	Coll	Supported Mumford in the ruck and that kept pressure on Jolly.	4
GF	Haw	Monster effort. Took six marks and provided a presence for his team all day.	7