DOB: 14 November 1972
Debut: Round 1, 1993 against Hawthorn at Waverley
Last MFC Game: Preliminary Final 1994 against West Coast at WACA
From: Ingle Farm/Norwood, Selection #9, 1992 National Draft
Games: 24 (247 total)
Goals: 25 (126 total)
Career Statistics
Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
10 | 0 | 14 | 41.66 |
Drafted as a defender after two senior seasons in the SANFL, Pike played as centre half-back in his first year before stress fractures in right leg sidelined him for the rest of the season. Coach Neil Balme recast Pike as a forward in 1994. That year he played three finals and showed promise in his new role, but off-field incidents related to alcohol soured the end of his season, and he was traded to Fitzroy.
Pike played all 22 games for the 'Roys in their disastrous 1996 season, and won their last Best and Fairest, but wasn't picked as one of the eight Fitzroy players for the new Brisbane Lions side. In the week the Lions merged with Brisbane, Pike narrowly escaped jail for repeat drink driving. North Melbourne took a chance on Pike in 1997 - with the proviso that they could dismiss him if he was caught drinking excessively. He had a solid year and represented South Australia in State of Origin side. In 1998 he played in the Grand Final, and landed a premiership the next season.
After a poor 2000 season, featuring more disciplinary issues, Pike was again cut loose. This time the Brisbane Lions threw him a lifeline. He went on to play in three premierships for them.
In 2006 and 2007 Pike coached Hastings of the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League. In 2009 he became an assistant coach at the Northern Bullants VFL side and was senior coach of the Power House club in 2010 and 2011.
Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
1993 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
1994 | 16 | 25 | 0 |
Lists
Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Lions
First draft picks
Fitzroy
North Melbourne
SANFL
Premiership players at other clubs
Media
Age - 09/06/1993, 07/07/1996, 12/02/1997
Links
Australian Rules Football Wiki profile
Demonwiki image gallery
Draftguru profile
Redlegs Museum profile
Wikipedia profile