SYDNEY Swans coach John Longmire has hailed the learning ability and improvement of his Canadian ruckman Mike Pyke.

While across town at GWS former rugby league star Israel Folau is still grappling with his adjustment to Australian rules, Pyke is establishing himself as a handy member of a near full-strength Swans team that has won six successive games.

Former Test rugby winger Pyke has played the last eight games for the Swans, averaging 22 hitouts a match, while kicking one goal in each of the last four fixtures.

Together with Shane Mumford, Pyke matched the Eagles' much lauded duo of Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui on Sunday, as the Swans bolted to a 52-point win in Perth.

He supplemented his rucking efforts with an important goal near half-time which halted an Eagles rally.

It was initially thought 28-year-old Pyke would only stay in the team until Mumford regained full fitness following a long layoff.

However, Longmire emphasised Mumford had reached that level over the past two weeks and Pyke was being selected on his own merits.

"He has been able to be really competitive and as long as he keeps performing, it's going to be pretty hard to put him out of the team," Longmire said.

Longmire revealed Pyke, who has played 36 games in three and a half seasons, put in a heap of extra work.

"He didn't have that grounding of AFL football until 25 years of age, so had to cram it all in and he's a magnificent crammer," Longmire said.

"He's a real professional with the amount of time he sits there and watches the game, but also his ability to learn.

"I think he probably gets a bit underestimated with the challenge he has been able to overcome."