Australian Football

AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game

 

Key Facts

Full name
Frank Sherman Pyke

Known as
Frank Pyke

Born
1 December 1941

Place of birth
Perth, WA (6000)

Died
22 November 2011 (aged 69)

Place of death
Perth, WA (6000)

Occupation
Sports scientist, Educator

Senior clubs
Perth

State of origin
WA

Family links
Don Pyke (Son)James Pyke (Son)

Frank Pyke


ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
PerthWANFL1959-1966, 1972-19731301521.17
Total1959-1966, 1972-19731301521.17

Perth's Frank Pyke was a superbly adaptable footballer who could perform well in virtually any position, although many of his finest performances came on a half forward flank. That was the position he occupied in Perth's winning Grand Final of 1966 against East Perth, when he was one of the best players afield. 

Although he never managed to win a club fairest and best award, other than at Colts level (in 1958), Pyke ran third in the Sandover Medal voting in both 1962 and 1963, finishing just one vote adrift of winner Ray Sorrell of East Fremantle in the latter year. In 1963 he represented Western Australia against both Tasmania and the VFL at Subiaco. Frank Pyke played a total of 130 WANFL games for Perth between 1959 and 1966, and in 1972 and 1973. 

He spent the intervening six-year period between stints studying in the USA, where his son Don was born, and became a world renown sports scientist and educator, credited, among other things, with the rehabilitation of Dennis Lillee's cricket career after a serious back injury.

Author - John Devaney with additional material from Adam Cardosi

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.