Five years after he thought his fledgling AFL career might be finishing, former Test rugby player Mike Pyke has vindicated the patience and faith of his Sydney Swans coach John Longmire.
Canadian ruckman Pyke will make his 100th AFL appearance against Gold Coast on Saturday.
He made the switch to a code he had never played after representing Canada at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
He admitted on Thursday he thought his Australian Rules career was likely to end in just its second season, in 2010, when the Swans signed fellow rucks Shane Mumford and Mark Seaby.
However Seaby suffered a serious ankle injury and Pyke flourished to cement a spot before becoming the club’s No.1 ruckman last year, after Mumford left to join rivals Greater Western Sydney.
“I think it’s probably sometimes a big risk for Horse (Longmire) every weekend when he picks me,” 31-year-old Pyke said.
“I think the milestone is sort of vindication for his patience (with me).”
Pyke, played 22 tests for Canada and played against both the All Blacks and Wallabies during his four-year Test career, which ended in 2008.
Pyke revealed he thought he would not play more than eight AFL games after learning the Swans had recruited both Mumford and Seaby.
“I don’t think I was close to giving up (on the AFL) but I thought maybe my time was up, I think had Mark (Seaby) not been injured that year, I would’ve probably looked to go back and play Rugby” Pyke said.
An AFL debutant at the mature age of 25, Pyke isn’t setting a deadline on his Australian Rules adventure, after his contract expires next year.
“The decision gets made for you and usually it’s form and that usually correlates to how your body is doing,” Pyke said.
“As long as my form is okay and my body is okay, I want to play as many games as I can.”
Comparing Australian Rules and Rugby, Pyke said they were very different games “but I think AFL in terms of a real toll on your body is more difficult.”
After injury stalled his first season as the Swans premier ruckman following Mumford’s departure, 31-year-old Pyke is presently enjoying one of his best seasons.
“I certainly feel more capable and comfortable with the role,” Pyke said.
Jason K
Guest
I'm starting to think the same thing MH. When you look at what rucks contribute to fantasy scores, it's hardly anything. I guess there are a lot of intangible elements to the art of ruck, so let's call fantasy footy an over-simplification. Point is, teams could just add one tall to the midfield and have that guy ruck most of the time and just basically forget about the dedicated ruck position as a full-time role in footy.
Bruce
Guest
Thanks for your recommendation Lloyd. Last time I looked this website states 'the roar, your opinion'. If you live in the developed states you're allowed to have one. So - I have seen replays of Pyke playing Rugby and my opinion is he was hopeless. He tried Rugby in France but couldn't cut it and wasn't offered a new contract. So the poor devil headed down here to try a game he had never played before. Lo and behold the bloke masters it pronto and gets to this marvelous milestone. I think it's fantastic that the AFL gave this poor devil the opportunity to play professional sport - an experience he wouldn't have otherwise achieved. I also think its great the AFL is throwing big money at these U.S. combine things and other international recruitment drives. It gives all the 2nd, 3rd and 4th tier athletes a chance to play a professional sport. It's great that AFL is so easily adapted to by these poor buggers. Maybe we should make it a refugee priority and put Kelvin Sheedy in charge.
Michael huston
Guest
I can't speak highly enough of how much I rate John Longmire, so I echo Pyke's thoughts. I've been pretty honest about my qualms with Mike Pyke, but when I think of our 2012 season, I'll always remember Pyke, along with the likes of Jetta, and Alex Johnson. I still don't rate ruckmen in the comp though. Sure, Freo is dominating from the middle week after week, but in a Sandilands-less competition, ruckmen make little difference. So I'm actually not too worried about our ruck stocks beyond Pyke.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
All true KTK. Be careful though responding to 'Bruce'. He's not making comments to lead to any meaningful discussion about Aussie Rules. Not now, not ever. It's a troll.
kick to kick
Guest
Unfair on Pyke. He was obviously always a talented and adaptable athlete. As a kid he played a range of sports including basketball and ice-hockey. He not only played for Canada in Rugby but in the French club competition which is serious rugby. When the Swans recruited him I recall reports that as a youngster he had posted a sub 11 second hundred metres. In the 2012 season he took second most contested marks in the AFL (52) . And its also reported that he holds the current Swans weightlifting record so he's formidable. He doesn't have the agility of a Natanui, but he also apparently works very hard technically at his game so suggestions he is a plank or his AFL success has happened easily are off the mark.
Bruce
Guest
The bloke was a plank playing for a 2nd rate Rugby team - good to see him reach the top of AFL so easily.
Jason K
Guest
I watch AFL from the USA and I love seeing international characters from all kinds of backgrounds playing footy. Best of luck to you, Mike Pyke. I hope we get to see Jason Holmes play at the top level this year, too.