AFL goal posts have haunted many of the game’s greats over the years, but a Canadian sharpshooter who hadn’t picked up a Sherrin before 2008 seems to have worked it out.
Sydney ruckman Mike Pyke has kicked 21.4 from set shots this year, the most accurate conversion rate in 2013.
In addition to booting a total of 26 goals, Pyke has snaffled 48 contested marks this season – second only to Collingwood’s Travis Cloke (55).
The 29-year-old will spend time forward in Friday night’s qualifying final against Hawthorn at the MCG, where the Swans will look to test the Hawks for height with Kurt Tippett, Jesse White and a resting ruckman.
“Not much changes in terms of structure for us,” White said of the return of Tippett, who missed the two sides’ ANZ Stadium clash last Friday night with a tight hamstring.
“We like our talls in the forward line.”
Tippett trained with the main group on Wednesday, while Dan Hannebery (knee) was on limited duties in the early stages of the the closed session.
In-form Tippett had a stellar second half of the season, but if Friday night comes down to a kick after-the-siren then Pyke’s the man for the job.
It’s an incredible sign of how a Paul Roos project, once derided as a joke, has developed beyond belief after being part of the Swans’ 2012 premiership team.
“I feel really confident and feel like the confidence around me has really grown,” the rugby union convert said of 2013.
“When you make a one-off mistake (now), it’s not down to the fact I have no idea what I’m doing.
“I feel a bit more established in the team, I don’t feel on the edges as much.”
For those fans frustrated by the yips and the fact goal-kicking has been left behind in the league’s era of ultimate professionalism and sports science, Pyke offered some hope.
“It’s literally taken me four seasons to find a good routine and one that fits,” he said.
“I found something that fit with me in the pre-season and I stuck with it.”
Pyke credited ruck partner Shane Mumford for helping develop his tap work, adding that Sydney fans should not be alarmed by the fact the out-of-contract star had yet to put pen to paper for 2014.
“I was in the same situation last year and you don’t think about it once finals start. You want it on the backburner,” he said.