Pyke Plays For Gold - Again!

Playing a different footie code in a faraway land, you'll find former CW-er, Mike Pyke suiting up in his #38 jersey for the Sydney Swans in tonight's AFL/Aussie Rules Grand Final. The match between the Swans and Hawthorn takes place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with in excess of 100, 000 fans on deck. Pykey was with the Swans two years ago, so it will be interesting to see if tonight's favourites can repeat.  Bookies have the team at 25 point favourites.....they score big in AFL! 

Since the last appearance in a Final, Mike has become an Australian citizen and continued to impress the knowledgeable Aussie fans with his play. It appears that salary for these pro players is attached to performance outcomes and based on those factors, Mike could be in a bracket, earning in excess of $450,000 for the season! Not bad for a "crossover athlete".  In his five years of playing Aussie Rules, he has developed into a premier ruckman and leads the League in a number of stats this season. "Pykey" as he is fondly labelled in Oz is also a consumate team guy, a fact that we have known since his high school, club, Pacific Pride and Rugby Canada days at "home".

From all the Tricolors and supporters and anyone else who knows you - go, you good thing.  Best of luck to you and the Swans.