Mike Pyke

Pyke was born to parents Christine Peterson and Richard Pyke in Victoria, British Columbia.{{cite news | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/canadian-pyke-to-make-debut/2009/04/30/1240982346036.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1| title = Canadian Pyke to make his 'crazy game' debut | first = Peter | last = Lalor | date =8 June 2013}}

Pyke first started playing basketball, soccer at St. Michaels University School in British Columbia, a school which has produced several Canadian national rugby players over the past few decades, as well as Steve Nash, NBA star, Hall of Fame and 2 time MVP before Mike was convinced to focus on rugby.{{fact|date=December 2021}}

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.{{fact|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Mike Pyke

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| nickname =

| school =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1984|3|24}}

| birth_place = Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

| height = 200 cm

| weight = {{convert|104|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}

|

| ru_position = Fullback

| ru_amateuryears =

| ru_amateurclubs =

| ru_amupdate =

| ru_nationalteam = {{nrut|Canada}}

| ru_nationalyears = 2004–2008

| ru_nationalcaps = 20

| ru_nationalpoints = (35)

| ru_sevensnationalyears =

| ru_sevensnationalteam =

| ru_ntupdate =

| ru_clubyears = 2004–2006
2006–2008

| ru_proclubs = Edinburgh
US Montauban

| ru_clubcaps = 19
10

| ru_clubpoints = (5)
(5)

| ru_clubupdate =

| ru_currentclub =

| rl_position =

| rl_amateuryears =

| rl_amateurclubs =

| rl_amupdate =

| rl_clubyears =

| rl_proclubs =

| rl_clubcaps =

| rl_clubpoints =

| rl_clubupdate =

| website =

}}

Pyke 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.{{fact|date=December 2021}}

In November 2006, he signed with US Montauban, where he played alongside Canadian teammate Ryan Smith.{{fact|date=December 2021}}

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 played on the wing or at fullback, but was also capable of playing most other backline positions.

{{see also|List of players who have converted from one football code to another}}

Injuries sustained at US Montauban saw Pyke look for a career change. A friend, Matt Woodland, convinced Pyke that he had all the attributes of an Australian Rules Football player and set in motion the code switch. Pyke put together a DVD showcasing his rugby highlights which Woodland then sent to AFL player agent Michael Quinlan from Top Dog Management.{{cite news | url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/swans-like-mike-pyke/story-e6frf33l-1111117188958 | title=Swans like Mike Pyke | work=Fox Sports Australia | date= 14 August 2008 | access-date=29 September 2012 | author=Morrissey, Tim}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/tabid/7106/default.aspx?newsid=68470 |title=Foreign legion takes shape |date=2008-09-30 |access-date=2012-09-21 |work=Sydney Swans web site |last=Murphy |first=Catherine |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231043150/http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/tabid/7106/default.aspx?newsid=68470 |archive-date=31 December 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/latest/13554422/swans-fly-under-the-radar/ |title=Swans fly under the radar |date=2012-04-30 |access-date=2012-09-21 |last=Duffield |first=Mark |work=The West Australian}}{{cite web|url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/12057329/how-moneyball-theory-profited-swans/ |title=How 'Moneyball theory' profited Swans |date=2011-11-06 |access-date=2012-11-09 |work=The West Australian |last=Harvey |first=Shannon}}

After viewing Pyke's credentials, the Sydney Swans offered him a contract. On 13 August 2008, Pyke signed with the team. 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. With his 200 cm height and 105 kg weight, he saw himself playing as a ruckman and/or defender.[http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24175107-19773,00.html Swans sign 24-year-old Canadian rugby player] from news.com.au Pyke was selected by the Swans as a round 4 (57th) pick in the rookie draft and added to the team's list.{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24807266-19742,00.html | title=PSD and Rookie Draft: Pick by pick | date=2008-12-16}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Mike Pyke

| image = File:Sydney and Brisbane contest 2013-05-05 (8744081023).jpg

| fullname = Michael Anthony Patrick Pyke

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1984|3|24}}

| birth_place = Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = 200 cm

| weight = 104 kg

| position = Ruckman

| statsend = 2015

| years1 = 2009–2015

| club1 = {{AFL Syd}}

| games_goals1 = 110 (48)

| careerhighlights = * {{AFL Syd}} premiership player 2012

• 2015 AFLPA Education and Training Excellence Award

}}

Pyke made an impressive debut in the NAB Cup match against Port Adelaide. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/pyke-in-right-position-to-grab-ruck-spot/2009/02/22/1235237452236.html |title=Pyke in right position to grab ruck spot |access-date=2009-02-26 |last=Cowley |first=Michael |date=2009-02-23 |work=Real Footy }}

Despite a solid performance in his debut, Pyke's conversion was criticized by some AFL commentators, most notably Brian Taylor, who described the experiment in 2009 as a "joke" and described him as the worst player in the AFL.James Dampney [http://channelnine.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=809149 Ex-rugby player Pyke answers critics] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121231073711/http://channelnine.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=809149 |date=31 December 2012}} Ninemsn 2009

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 Jesse 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.{{cite web | url=http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20090506221715706 | title=Pyke on bike - World Footy News }}

By Round 14, 2010, Pyke finally managed his first senior goal, again against Richmond.{{cite news| url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tigers-fight-their-way-off-the-bottom-20100704-zvsi.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=Tigers fight their way off the bottom | first=Samantha | last=Lane | date=2010-07-05}}

In August 2010 Pyke was given a new two-year contract with the Sydney Swans.{{cite web| url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/swans-give-canadian-mike-pyke-two-more-years/story-e6frf9jf-1225901020388/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110809040400/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/swans-give-canadian-mike-pyke-two-more-years/story-e6frf9jf-1225901020388| archive-date = 2011-08-09| title = Swans give Canadian Mike Pyke two more years {{!}} Herald Sun}}

Swans' coach Paul Roos praised Pyke, saying he had developed into a genuine AFL ruckman. "This year, if someone came to their first game, you'd have to point out that this is a Canadian rugby player now playing AFL football, and that's the biggest compliment you can give Pykey," Roos said.{{cite web | url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-7259-0-0-0&sID=154776&articleID=12880109&news_task=DETAIL | title=Swans Re-Sign Canadian Mike Pyke for 2 More Years - AFL Canada }}

The success of Pyke's move to the AFL was further cemented at the 2010 Sydney Swans Club Champion presentation, where Pyke was awarded the Dennis Carroll Trophy for Most Improved Player.

In the 2011 season, Pyke played only two games before an ongoing quad muscle injury kept him off the senior side for the rest of the season.

After missing selection for round one of the 2012 season, Pyke injured his posterior cruciate ligament playing in the reserves.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7106/newsid/148874/default.aspx |title=What they said: Every premiership player speaks - Official AFL Website of the Sydney Swans Football Club |access-date= 29 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001044920/http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7106/newsid/148874/default.aspx |archive-date=1 October 2012 |url-status=dead}} He made his return in Round 8, 2012, to a Sydney Swans starting side destined to win the Grand Final. The Swans added his blog, "Open Pyke", to their website in June 2012{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/open%20pyke/tabid/19395/default.aspx |title=Open Pyke - Official AFL Website of the Sydney Swans Football Club |access-date=2012-07-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630032136/http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/open%20pyke/tabid/19395/default.aspx |archive-date=30 June 2012}} and his goal against the West Coast Eagles was featured as the SwansTV Play of the Day for Round 16.{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/Multimedia/tabid/8664/contentid/469204/Default.aspx |title=Swans TV - Official AFL Website of the Sydney Swans Football Club |access-date=2012-08-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720003046/http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/Multimedia/tabid/8664/contentid/469204/Default.aspx |archive-date=20 July 2012}} In Round 21 Pyke scored a career-high three goals against the Western Bulldogs.{{cite web|title=AFL Statistics|url=http://www.afl.com.au/stats|publisher=AFL|access-date= 24 August 2014}}

With the Sydney Swans' win in the 2012 Grand Final on 29 September 2012, Pyke became the first Canadian to play in an AFL premiership winning team.{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/swans-ruckman-mike-pyke-grand-final-date-isnt-exactly-big-news-in-canada/story-fndv8ujy-1226482095926 | location=Sydney | work=The Daily Telegraph | title= Swans ruckman Mike Pyke grand final date isn't exactly big news in Canada | first=Neil | last=Cordy | date=2012-09-29}} When Swans coach John Longmire substituted primary ruckman Shane Mumford, suffering from a sore hamstring, out of the game in the fourth term, Pyke was left to handle the ruck duties alone. He was recognised as playing an important role in the Swans' win.{{cite web |url=http://www.bigpondsport.com/hawks-stars-go-missing/tabid/91/newsid/96107/default.aspx |title=Hawks' stars go missing (AFL Grand Final Heroes & Goats) |access-date=2012-09-30 |date=2012-09-29 |work=BigPond Sport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001112723/http://www.bigpondsport.com/hawks-stars-go-missing/tabid/91/newsid/96107/default.aspx |archive-date=1 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}Darcy, Luke and Barrett, Damian. {{cite web |url=http://bigpondvideo.com/AFL/494456/Access%20All%20Areas/ |title=Access All Areas |access-date=2012-10-01 |work=BigPond Sport |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118013326/http://bigpondvideo.com/AFL/494456/Access%20All%20Areas/ |archive-date= 18 January 2013}} He was credited with 16 disposals, a career high, and three contested marks, more than anyone else on the field except Hawthorn star Lance Franklin, who took four.{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/statistics/tabid/7120/default.aspx |title=Sydney Swans Statistics |access-date=2012-10-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005122521/http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/statistics/tabid/7120/default.aspx |archive-date=5 October 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/stats/tabid/4756/default.aspx |title=Hawthorn Statistics |access-date=2012-10-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006095531/http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/stats/tabid/4756/default.aspx |archive-date=6 October 2012}}

The Swans signed Pyke to another two-year contract in 2012,Paolucci, Tanya. {{cite web |url=http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7106/newsid/150459/default.aspx |title=Premiership trio re-sign |access-date=2012-10-30 |date=2012-10-30 |work=Sydney Swans Football Club |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101011614/http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7106/newsid/150459/default.aspx |archive-date=1 November 2012 |url-status=dead }} and he played in all 25 games for the Swans' 2013 season. He took 52 contested marks, more than any player in the competition except Travis Cloke, and he was the Swans' fourth-leading goal kicker with 28.{{cite web|title=Sydney Swans 2013 Stats|url=http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/football/season-2013/statistics|publisher=Sydney Swans Football Club|access-date=21 September 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927074608/http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/football/season-2013/statistics|archive-date=27 September 2013}} Pyke's success on the field led former Sydney coach Paul Roos to hold him out as a contender for the 2013 All-Australian team.{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/paul-roos-places-sydney-ruckman-mike-pyke-in-all-australian-contention/story-fni5fan7-1226655479818 |title=Paul Roos places Sydney ruckman Mike Pyke in All-Australian contention |access-date=2013-09-21 |date=2013-09-21 |work=Herald Sun }} It was to be his best season.

Pre-season surgery and a hamstring injury hampered Pyke during the 2014 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/player-profile/mike-pyke |access-date=2015-04-01 |title=Senior Players List }} He played in 19 games, including the Swans' three finals matches. He had a career-best 53 hitouts in Round 17 against Carlton, but his best outing was arguably in Round 19 against Essendon when he had 49 hitouts, three contested marks, six tackles and a goal.[http://afl.com.au/stats AFL Match Statistics at afl.com.au] On 23 September 2014, it was announced that Pyke had signed another contract to remain with the Swans until the end of 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-09-23/big-swan-signs-on- |access-date=2015-04-01 |date=2014-09-23 |title=Big Swan Pyke re-signs despite COLA hiccup |work=AFL}}

After a good first half of the 2015 season, in which he averaged 33 hitouts a game, knee problems caused Pyke's form to drop off. He missed four games and averaged fewer than 18 hitouts per game over the last half of the season and the finals. His season overall was characterised as "below par but serviceable" by the Swans.{{cite web|url=http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2015-10-06/mike-pykes-2015-by-the-numbers |access-date=2015-10-16 |date=2015-10-06 |title=Mike Pyke's 2015 by the numbers |work=AFL}}

On 15 September 2015 Pyke, who had recently earned a master's degree in Commerce (Finance) from the University of Sydney,{{cite web|url=http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2015-09-16/swans-clean-up-at-aflpa-awards |title=Swans clean up at AFLPA Awards |access-date=2015-09-16 |date=2015-09-16 }} was awarded the AFL Players Association's Education and Training Excellence Award "for his outstanding commitment to his Masters in Commerce and career development."{{cite web |url=http://www.aflplayers.com.au/article/all-the-afl-players-mvp-award-winners/ |title=All the AFL Players' MVP Award Winners |access-date=2015-09-16 |date=2015-09-15 }}

On 16 October 2015, Pyke announced his retirement from the AFL in typically understated fashion by posting a photo on Twitter of his boots hanging up inside his locker at the SCG.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-10-16/swans-ruckman-mike-pyke-hangs-up-the-boots|title=Swans ruckman Mike Pyke hangs up the boots|last=Curley|first=Adam|date=16 October 2015|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=16 October 2015}} "I got to the point where I didn't think I had any more improvement left in me and that's when you know to step aside and let the younger players come through," he said of his decision.{{cite news|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/ex-canadian-rugby-international-mike-pyke-retires-from-aussie-rules-football-1.2614259|title=Ex-Canadian rugby international Mike Pyke retires from Aussie Rules Football|last=Davidson|first=Neil|date=16 October 2015|work=ctvnews.ca|publisher=CTV News|access-date=16 October 2015}}

:{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/M/Mike_Pyke.html|title=Mike Pyke|work=AFL Tables|access-date=6 September 2016}}

{{AFL player statistics legend/ruckman}}

{{AFL player statistics start/ruckman}}

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2009

|{{AFL Syd}}

| 38 || 8 || 0 || 1 || 8 || 39 || 47 || 3 || 12 || 98 || 0.0 || 0.1 || 1.0 || 4.9 || 5.9 || 0.4 || 1.5 || 12.3

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2010

|{{AFL Syd}}

| 38 || 18 || 3 || 2 || 49 || 86 || 135 || 43 || 55 || 292 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 2.7 || 4.8 || 7.5 || 2.4 || 3.1 || 16.2

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2011

|{{AFL Syd}}

| 38 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 8 || 7 || 15 || 4 || 6 || 27 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 4.0 || 3.5 || 7.5 || 2.0 || 3.0 || 13.5

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2012

|{{AFL Syd}}

| 38 || 18 || 8 || 8 || 70 || 112 || 182 || 59 || 48 || 384 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 3.9 || 6.2 || 10.1 || 3.3 || 2.7 || 21.3

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2013

|{{AFL Syd}}

| 38 || 25 || 28 || 8 || 123 || 153 || 276 || 89 || 53 || 546 || 1.1 || 0.3 || 4.9 || 6.1 || 11.0 || 3.6 || 2.1 || 21.8

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2014

|{{AFL Syd}}

| 38 || 19 || 3 || 6 || 88 || 93 || 181 || 42 || 45 || 525 || 0.2 || 0.3 || 4.6 || 4.9 || 9.5 || 2.2 || 2.4 || 27.6

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2015

|{{AFL Syd}}

| 38 || 20 || 4 || 4 || 60 || 104 || 164 || 39 || 49 || 519 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 3.0 || 5.2 || 8.2 || 2.0 || 2.5 || 26.0

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career

! 110

! 48

! 29

! 406

! 594

! 1000

! 279

! 268

! 2391

! 0.4

! 0.3

! 3.7

! 5.4

! 9.1

! 2.5

! 2.4

! 21.7

|}

Pyke is married to Florencia Bonet, and the couple had their first child in March 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/why-sydney-swan-mike-pyke-should-be-known-as-more-than-just-a-canadian-ex-rugby-player/story-fni5fan7-1226654688618|title=Why Sydney Swan Mike Pyke should be known as more than just a Canadian ex-rugby player|last=Hayes|first=Mark|date=2013-06-01|access-date=2015-10-16|work=heraldsun.com.au|publisher=Herald Sun}}

Pyke became an Australian citizen on 26 January 2014, Australia Day.{{cite web |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-01-24/o-canada|title= O Canada! Pyke set to become an Aussie|date=24 January 2014 |access-date=2015-10-16}} He earned a master's degree in Commerce (Finance) from the University of Sydney in 2015.{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/sydney-swan-mike-pykes-clever-twitter-announcement-of-retirement-from-afl-hangs-up-boots-photo/story-e6frf3e3-1227571824390|title=Sydney Swan Mike Pyke's clever Twitter announcement of retirement from AFL, hangs up boots photo|first= Max |last=Laughton|work=Fox Sports|date=16 October 2015}}

After retiring from the AFL, Pyke went to work for investment bank Moelis & Company. He said of his new job, "it's not as much pressure as the first bounce at a football game and having a 100-kg-plus opponent bearing down on you."{{cite news|url=http://www.pressreader.com/australia/the-daily-telegraph-sydney/20160102/282527247410746/TextView|title=Swans' quiet achiever moves on to next phase of his life after leaving his mark on AFL history|first= Neil |last=Cordy|work=The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|date= 2 January 2016}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{AFL Tables | M/Mike_Pyke }}
• {{ESPNscrum|14484}}
• [https://archive.today/20130409152438/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/players_statistics_archive.php?player=8767&includeref=dynamic European profile at www.ercrugby.com]

{{2012 Sydney Swans premiership players}}

{{2009 AFL rookie draft}}

{{2010 AFL national draft}}

{{Canada Squad 2007 World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pyke, Michael}}

Category:1984 births

Category:Canadian rugby union players

Category:Footballers who switched code

Category:Living people

Category:Rugby union wings

Category:Rugby union players from Victoria, British Columbia

Category:Sydney Swans players

Category:Sydney Swans premiership players

Category:Canada international rugby union players

Category:Canadian expatriate sportspeople in Australia

Category:Canadian players of Australian rules football

Category:VFL/AFL players born outside Australia

Category:VFL/AFL premiership players

Category:2007 Rugby World Cup players

Category:US Montauban players

Category:Edinburgh Rugby players

Category:Canadian expatriate rugby union players in France

Category:St. Michaels University School alumni

Category:Canadian expatriates in Australia