Mike Pyke at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph
MIKE Pyke's dramatic improvement has created the opportunity for the Swans to have a triple threat of monster ruckmen when Kurt Tippett returns from suspension.
John Longmire's immediate focus is on Hawthorn in tomorrow night's grand final rematch at the MCG, but the Swans coach has told The Daily Telegraph he is open to the possibility of playing all three of his big men - Pyke, Tippett and Shane Mumford - in the same team when they are all on deck in round 13.
"I'm not ruling it out," Longmire said.
"It doesn't matter what size you are as long as you compete."
After a stellar performance in last year's grand final victory over the Hawks, Pyke has picked up where he left off last season and is now in a position where he could get a game with any team in the AFL.
The former Canadian rugby union international is now worthy of a place among the AFL's elite forward ruckmen.
"His ability to listen, learn and implement has been the key to his success," Longmire said.
"He's very smart and can process information really well."
Pyke's 15 contested marks this season place him third in the league behind St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt and Collingwood's Travis Cloke, who both have 16.
He now wins 52 per cent of all ruck contests, which ranks him equal fifth in the AFL alongside Brisbane's Matthew Leuenberger, and seven goals from six games this season has the Canadian equal fifth in the Swans' goalkicking list. They are impressive numbers.
"I'm just keeping it simple," Pyke said.
"My process hasn't really changed at all, I do just go out there and try to do my best at training and then try to implement that in games."
Longmire believes Pyke is now a far more complete footballer than he was even last season.
"He's added contested marking and goalscoring to his repertoire," Longmire said. "He's very physical and mobile for a player his size and his work rate is second to none."
Pyke's form has him at the very least on an equal footing with Mumford as the club's top ruckman. Longmire won't be drawn on choosing which of his two big men are ahead in the pecking order.
"They are an equal partnership," Longmire said.
"Their roles have evolved over the last 12 months, where Mike can spend more time forward and Shane can pick up his 16 possessions around the ground."
The Canadian believes there is room for three big men, including Tippett, in the Swans' best 22.
"It doesn't matter what the size of the players is," Pyke said.
"People get caught up on height. I think the most important thing is that your team is in form."
Pyke's rise continues to be one of the code's most remarkable stories.
After arriving at the Swans' doorstep in 2008 having never seen a game of Australian rules live, Pyke has now played 52 games and has a premiership medal.
Nick Malceski, another of the Swans' grand final heroes, has re-signed with the club until the end of 2014.
The 28-year-old has resisted the temptation to wait until the end of the season and test himself in the free agents' market.
This means the Swans will have only Jude Bolton as a potential free agent at the end of the season.
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