Don Pyke

DOB

5/12/1968

Height

178cm

Weight

78 kg

Junior club

Belconnen JFC (ACT)

Arrived

Pre-draft selection in the 1988 national draft

Number

1 (1989 – 1990)
10 (1991 – 1996)

Debut

Round 1 1989 vs Essendon
(45th Eagles player)

Games

132

Goals

70

Honours

Premiership medal (1992, 1994)
Club Champion (1993, tied)

B&F Top 10

2 (1993, 1994)

Best Finish

Tied for 1st (1993)

Last app.

Round 17 1996 vs Brisbane

Departed

Retired due to injury during the 1996 season

Other clubs

Belconnen (ACT FL) 1986
Claremont (WAFL) 1987-1996

Tenacious midfielder Don Pyke had a lesser profile than some of his better-known teammates but still received his share of accolades before injury brought a premature end to his career.

West Coast career

One of the few AFL footballers born in the USA, Pyke arrived at the Eagles after winning a best-and-fairest at Claremont as a 19 year old.

An attacking rover early in his career, Pyke made an immediate impact with 21 touches and 2 goals against the Bombers on debut. He finished his first year with 14 goals from 16 games.

Pyke managed just 4 games in 1990, but bounced back in 1991. Retooling himself as a stopping midfielder, Pyke played 24 games and was one of the Eagles’ best in the grand final loss to Hawthorn.

His 1992 season was interrupted by injury, but he returned in time for the finals series. In the grand final, he was flattened by Gary Ablett senior in the first quarter but inspirationally returned to the field and ended up with a premiership medal.

Although West Coast didn’t repeat their success in 1993, Pyke had a fantastic year, eventually tying with big Glen Jakovich for the best and fairest. He finished runner up to Jakovich in 1994, and both of them ended up with their second premiership medal.

He continued his good form throughout 1995. Unfortunately, a serious shoulder injury ruined his 1996 season and led to his retirement at the end of the year at the tender age of 27.

Coaching career

Following his retirement, Pyke remained involved with West Coast as a runner and later a director. He also served as Claremont’s head coach and an assistant at Adelaide before quitting to pursue business interests.

In 2014, he returned to the club as an assistant coach under new senior coach Adam Simpson, with responsibility for stoppages and strategy. After two years in that role he was appointed as Adelaide's head coach for 2016, replacing the late Phil Walsh.

Stats

AFL	Gm	G	B	K	M	H	D	T	WAFL	Gm	G
1989	16	14	15	194	52	67	261	17	Clar	2	4
1990	4	3	6	39	0	21	60	5		14	7
1991	24	4	11	301	49	94	395	39		0
1992	12	9	3	133	24	65	198	17		3	1
1993	22	12	6	352	100	112	464	42		0
1994	25	13	10	392	98	114	506	48		0
1995	21	15	6	255	50	111	366	37		0
1996	8	0	1	64	19	36	100	13		9	8
Tot	132	70	58	1730	392	620	2350	218
Avg		0.5		13.1	3.0	4.7	17.8	1.7