Just on 12 months ago, Sydney Swans ruckman Mike Pyke was plying his trade in the reserves, battling for a re-call to the Swans senior team.

With less than 30 senior games to his name, the big Canadian was one of a number of Swans ruck options, with Shane Mumford, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Mark Seaby and Jesse White all in the mix to line in the middle for the seniors.

When Pyke finally got his opportunity to prove himself again at AFL level he didn’t disappoint, and since round 8, 2012 he has not missed a match and this year notched up his 50th AFL game.

Speaking to SwansTV at Tuesday’s team recovery session in Coogee, Pyke said hard work and consistency have been what has kept him as a regular fixture in the Swans’ side.

“I don’t think much has changed to be honest,” Pyke said.

“I feel now, just like I did last year, that I want to improve and take my game up by little bits and pieces and I need to keep doing that.

“I just want to keep contesting the ball well and doing my role for the team and that’s all I’m trying to do and hopefully I can stay in the team for a long time.”

Not only has Pyke earned a consistent spot as one of the Swans rucks, he has also become a strong forward option in 2013.

After five rounds, Pyke is ranked in the top five in the league for contested marks, with 12 for the season, behind key forwards Nick Riewoldt (15), Travis Cloke (14) and Harry Taylor (13) and has also contributed five goals to date.

“I think it’s probably an experience thing,” he said about his marking and goalkicking.

“I notched up 50 (games) a few weeks ago and that’s typically a milestone where you’re actually considered to understand the game even though for me, coming where I come from, it will probably take 100 games for me to actually totally understand it.

“I feel pretty comfortable out there and I don’t feel like I’m coming from too far back, I feel like I’m reasonable competitive.”

The Swans ruck combination of Pyke and Shane Mumford has been favoured again this season, with the two big men lining up together in the Swans’ first five matches of 2013.

Pyke said he believed the combination’s success in 2012 had inspired other clubs to also trial a dual ruck combination this year.

“I think we were probably a step ahead,” Pyke said.

“If you look at a lot of the clubs now they are playing two ruckman and I think it’s sort of going back that way again.

“I think for me and Mummy to be able to have that tandem last year really helped because we understand what each other wants, and I think we do a good job and complement each other well.”

This weekend the Swans ruck duo will line up against the Brisbane Lions talented young ruckmen Matthew Leuenberger and Billy Longer and Pyke said he and Mumford would need to be at their best to get on top this Sunday.

“Every weekend is so important and it doesn’t matter who you’re playing,” he said.

“There aren’t any easy games in football and we know that (the games) are always tough and you never come off the ground feeling like you didn’t play a game.

“For Mumford and I, we’ve got to be on our guard to take down Leuenberger and Longer.

“This week is really important and obviously Brisbane got a good win on the weekend and I watched that one and their rucks are in good form.”