Michael Pyke was born on 24 March 1984 and is a Canadian retired dual-code football player, who was a professional Australian rules footballer with the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League.
31 Facts About Mike Pyke
1.
2.
Mike Pyke is the first Canadian national and the first former rugby union professional to play in an AFL premiership team, having played in the Sydney Swans 2012 premiership-winning side.
3.
Mike Pyke was born to parents Christine Peterson and Richard Mike Pyke in Victoria, British Columbia.
4.
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.
5.
Mike Pyke began his professional rugby career at the Edinburgh Gunners in 2004.
6.
Mike Pyke won his first international cap against Japan, at age 20 the same year.
7.
Mike 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.
8.
Injuries sustained at US Montauban saw Mike Pyke look for a career change.
9.
Mike Pyke put together a DVD showcasing his rugby highlights which Woodland then sent to AFL player agent Michael Quinlan from Top Dog Management.
10.
Mike Pyke believed his basketball and rugby background would help him adapt to Australian rules football.
11.
Mike Pyke was selected by the Swans as a round 4 pick in the rookie draft and added to the team's list.
12.
Mike Pyke made an impressive debut in the NAB Cup match against Port Adelaide.
13.
Mike Pyke's 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.
14.
Mike Pyke 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.
15.
Mike Pyke finally got his opportunity with the Swans when selected to play in round 6 of the AFL premiership competition against the Richmond Tigers.
16.
Swans' coach Paul Roos praised Mike Pyke, saying he had developed into a genuine AFL ruckman.
17.
The success of Mike Pyke's move to the AFL was further cemented at the 2010 Sydney Swans Club Champion presentation, where Mike Pyke was awarded the Dennis Carroll Trophy for Most Improved Player.
18.
Mike Pyke made his return in Round 8,2012, to a Sydney Swans starting side destined to win the Grand Final.
19.
In Round 21 Mike Pyke scored a career-high three goals against the Western Bulldogs.
20.
When Swans coach John Longmire substituted primary ruckman Shane Mumford, suffering from a sore hamstring, out of the game in the fourth term, Mike Pyke was left to handle the ruck duties alone.
21.
Mike Pyke was recognised as playing an important role in the Swans' win.
22.
Mike Pyke 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.
23.
Mike Pyke 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.
24.
Mike Pyke played in 19 games, including the Swans' three finals matches.
25.
Mike Pyke 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.
26.
On 23 September 2014, it was announced that Mike Pyke had signed another contract to remain with the Swans until the end of 2016.
27.
Mike Pyke missed four games and averaged fewer than 18 hitouts per game over the last half of the season and the finals.
28.
On 16 October 2015, Mike 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.
29.
Mike Pyke is married to Florencia Bonet, and the couple had their first child in March 2013.
30.
Mike Pyke became an Australian citizen on 26 January 2014, Australia Day.
31.
Mike Pyke earned a master's degree in Commerce from the University of Sydney in 2015.