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Mike K. Mitchell, O.D. - Mike K. Mitchell Optometrist - Cottonwood Eye & cottonwoodeye.com | Mike Squiers, MSPT, Center for Specialty Care, Fairmont, Minnesota centerforspecialtycare.co... | Mike Arteaga's Health and Fitness Centers Poughkeepsie NY and Mike... mikearteaga.com | NEW ANNE AND MIKE ARMSTRONG MEDICAL EDUCATION BUILDING DEDICATED hopkinsmedicine.org |
Michael Anthony Patrick Pyke (born March 24, 1984 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) is a Canadian dual-code football player. He is best known as a Rugby Union player, who played for Canada's national side and French Top 14 squad US Montauban. However injuries cut short his rugby career and Pyke is currently an Australian rules footballer rookie listed with the Sydney Swans.
[edit] Early lifePyke was born to parents Christine Peterson and Richard Pyke in Victoria, British Columbia Pyke first started playing basketball, soccer and ice hockey, at St. Michaels University School in British Columbia, a school which has produced several Canadian national rugby players over the past few decades, before being convinced to focus on rugby. As an amateur he was a member of various rugby teams based in Victoria, British Columbia, including the Pacific Sport rugby academy - where he led the B.C. Premier League with 210 points in 2003-2004, the University of Victoria, the Castaway Wanderers, and the Vancouver Island Crimson Tide. [edit] Professional Rugby and International Representative CareerPyke began his professional rugby career at the Edinburgh Gunners in 2004. He won his first international cap against Japan, at age 20 the same year. In November 2006, he signed with US Montauban, where he played alongside Canadian teammate Ryan Smith. As of August, 2007, he has 17 caps for the national side, scoring 30 points in the process. Pyke achieved fame in 2007 for running the length of the field and scoring a try against the New Zealand All Blacks off an intercepted pass from Dan Carter. As a rugby player, Pyke typically plays on the wing or at full back, but is also capable of playing most other back line positions. Injuries sustained at US Montauban saw Pyke look for a career change. A friend, Matt Woodland, who had taught him how to kick the Australian rules football convinced Pyke that he had all the attributes of an AFL great and set in motion the code switch. Pyke put together a DVD showcasing his rugby highlights which Woodland then sent onto AFL player agent Michael Quinlan[1] from Top Dog Management. Quinlan was immediately convinced of the possibilities and after speaking with Pyke several times began dialogue with the Sydney Swans, a team known for unconventional recruitment[citation needed] . [edit] Switch to Australian Rules FootballAfter viewing Pyke's credentials, the Sydney Swans wasted no time in offering him a contract. On 13 August 2008, Pyke signed with the club. The Swans had exploited a new draft rule initially designed to provide a pathway for amateur Australian Rules players outside of Australia to a professional AFL career. Although there were rules in place to protect the Gaelic Athletic Association and clubs using it for the Irish experiment, the new AFL draft rule did not preclude the recruitment of talented athletes from other sports such as rugby. As a result, Pyke became the first international sportsperson in VFL/AFL history drafted from a non-Irish sport. Pyke believed his basketball and rugby background would help him adapt to Australian rules football. The 200 cm, 105 kg e saw himself playing as a ruckman and or defender.[2] Pyke was selected by the Swans as a round 4 (57th) pick in the rookie draft and added to the team's list.[3] In late 2008, AFL player manager Ricky Nixon (who had set up recruiting networks in Ireland), commented publicly that he thought the Swans were "wasting their time" with Pyke and that the venture would not be successful.[4] Pyke made an impressive debut in the NAB Cup match against the Port Adelaide Power. His performance rucking against premiership ruckmen Dean Brogan and Brendon Lade earned him early favouritism to take the secondary ruckman role, supporting premiership ruckman Darren Jolly and make his AFL premiership season debut in the Swans opening match against St Kilda.[5] He was elevated to the Senior List shortly before the first round, leading to speculation he would indeed be chosen, but he was announced on the emergency list for the squad, with White taking the second ruck spot. In the following rounds Pyke played for the Swans reserves side in the AFL Canberra league. After a 20 possession strong performance with the reserves including some strong contested marks and goals, the club raised the possibility that Pyke's debut would take place in the coming weeks. Pyke finally got his opportunity with the Swans when selected to play in round 6 of the AFL premiership competition against the Richmond Tigers. In 50 minutes of game time, he accumulated 4 handballs, 1 mark, 1 tackle and 11 hit-outs. While his debut wasn't sensational, he showed enough confident passages of play to be considered as a back-up ruckman for the Swans.[6] [edit] References
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