CANADIAN rugby convert Mike Pyke and his ruck teammate Shane Mumford have claimed the biggest scalps of their growing partnership in the Sydney Swans win over West Coast at Patersons Stadium.

Against West Coast's much-vaunted ruck duo of Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui, Pyke and Mumford narrowly lost the hit-outs 47-45, but had more possessions and took more marks than their opponents.

Coach John Longmire said the efforts of Pyke and Mumford were crucial in giving the Swans' midfielders the chance to take the ball away from the stoppages.

Pyke credits his remarkable improvement since joining the Swans from the Canadian national rugby team for the 2009 season to the club's coaching and backroom staff.

But he also believes Mumford has been largely responsible for the way the Swans have started to dominate the hit-outs.

"I've learnt a lot from Mummy, a lot from Darren Jolly, a lot from [ruck coach] Stephen Taubert and from Brett Allison.

"But Mummy's season has been really good, I think.

"He didn't have the pre-season he would have wanted to have had. His knee was crumbling away or something along those lines, so he didn't get the start he would have liked.

"But he has certainly played himself into some form now. He really puts pressure on guys and runs them hard and works them really hard in the contest, so he sets a standard for the club in the ruck division and we just try to follow him."

Pyke said that against West Coast he and Mumford had aimed to break even with Cox and Naitanui and give their best when resting forward. 

He kicked an important goal when opposed to West Coast's All-Australian defender and captain Darren Glass.

"Goal kicking is one of the many things I have been working on," he said with a wry smile.

"But it's a privilege to play on these guys. They are Australian and you just have to compete and not be overawed by the situation.

"That was our focus coming in, to nullify the two ruckman. They probably have got the tag of being the best two in the League, and rightfully so, so that was really important to us to get the neutral result.

"But the midfield is making us look really good. Even if it doesn't come off your hand quite right, they are still swooping on it. We have those hard bodies in there with Joey Kennedy, Kieren Jack is a hard nut, Jude Bolton is the old warhorse and Ryan O'Keefe.

"It really is one of our strengths."

Pyke said he and Mumford had reached the stage where they could keep up the pressure throughout the match and their rotations were working well.

Team-mate Ryan O'Keefe said Pyke's achievements since joining the club had been remarkable, and his partnership with Mumford had made the job of Sydney's midfielders much easier.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs