It was a tough introduction to the AFL for the Sydney Swans’ Canadian recruit Mike Pyke.
It took him until the third quarter to get his first possession and that was only after he’d handed a free kick and subsequent goal away to Port Adelaide when he appeared unaware of the pre-season rule on kicking backwards.
Pyke also recorded two handballs and one mark in what was likely his first visit to the national capital since arriving in Sydney last year.
Not to mention he was part of the side that lost by 65 points in Sunday’s first round NAB Cup clash between the two sides in Canberra.
But none of it stopped Swans coach Paul Roos from praising for the former rugby union international.
Pyke, Roos said, remains in contention as a ruckman for the season proper alongside youngster Daniel Currie (Currie) who may return from injury next week.
Roos gave the imposing Pyke plenty of time on the field in a bid to help him adopt to his new code but he will need plenty more time yet.
Simon
Guest
Great point about Stynes. Stynes was a slow starter. Unlike Pyke's baptism of fire, Stynes had to earn his spot through years of under 19s and at Prahran in the VFA. He was dropped after a disappointing debut and wasn't given a second chance for many months after that. It wasn't for a couple of years of AFL that he became a regular senior player and the rest - as they say - is history. Can anyone forget some of the massive mistakes that Stynes made ? Celebrating kicking a behind ? Running over the mark to rob Melbourne a Grand Final berth ? FFS, with the number of new rules each year I'm suprised half the players can understand the rules in the NAB Cup. So cut Pyke some slack. He is more of a proven athletic talent in Canada than Stynes was in Ireland and he is bigger and stronger than Stynes. The difference between Pyke and Irish recruits is ticker. Most Irish are reluctantly lured to Australia, whereas Pyke sought the AFL out and apparently has the sort of drive to succeed that brought Stynes so much success.
beaver fever
Roar Pro
Very interesting, wonder how Jim Stynes went in his first game coming from a Gaelic background, can he be any worse than Everitt was last year. Give him some time then make a judgement he could suprise but one game wont tell you much especially when they (swans) were flogged.
Michael C
Guest
He's got 3 weeks in the short term to 'magically' show something - for this year. He's got the rest of this year to notch up 20 odd games to have a solid foundation for next year. It's a bit early to label it a failed experiment. He's not even had the chance to sit and observe a real game - - watching taped games only does so much. It does at least prove - - it ain't a doddle in the park that a few months of refining can turn any joe from another footy code into a ready made player.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
redb you're right about the tap ruckman bit - but even then, there are a range of things he doesn't know that every 16 year old will know intuitively, e.g. in defence, don't tap it into the central corridor! A mate of mine went to the game in Canberra and he only just emailed me with his verdict: absolutely hopeless, failed experiment.
Redb
Guest
Pip, You can have the all the athleticism in the world, but you need to find the pill and then use it. Developing as a specialist tap ruckman seems to be his and the Swans best option. Redb
Pippinu
Roar Guru
This is what I warned about a few days ago when there was a thread on this bloke - absolutely everything is stacked against him - it will take an enormours mental effort from him to make it even to an acceptable standard (and that might mean being accepted as the 4th choice ruckman, a bit like the 3rd choice goalkeeper in soccer).