The 19-year-old, 191cm defender received the nomination after his outstanding game on Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola on Friday night at the MCG where he held the star forward to just two goals in front of a crowd of over 83,000 fans.
Tayte gathered 21 possessions for the match including nine kicks and 12 handballs, his rebound from defense a highlight with a game-high five rebound 50s.
Tayte has played all 13 matches this season, standing some of the games most potent forwards including Daniel Bradshaw, Jarryd Roughhead, Justin Koschitzke and Matthew Pavlich.
Recruited from East Perth, he made his AFL debut as a late inclusion into the Essendon line-up against the Western Bulldogs in Round 4 last year and went on to play five games in 2008.
Tayte was taken by Essendon as a 17-year-old with its second round selection at the 2007 NAB AFL Draft (pick No.23 overall).
He was a standout player with Western Australia’s title winning team at the 2007 NAB AFL Under 18 Championships and received All Australian honours.
Hailing from Manjimup in Western Australia, Tayte’s grassroots football club is Deanmill.
He is Essendon’s second NAB AFL Rising Star nominee for 2009 following David Zaharakis in Round 2.
""Being nominated (for the Rising Star) is something you have to be pretty proud of when you look at some of the guys who have been nominated so far this year - there are some good players there so it feels good,"" Pears said.
""It's not something I have ever thought about happening, I just wanted to play consistent senior footy this year and to be nominated comes as a bit of a shock to be honest.""
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Pears nominated Brisbane's Daniel Rich as one of the best young players he has seen from another club this year.
""He was my State captain in the WA under/15s and under/16s and he has gone straight into the Brisbane side and played good footy and I have enjoyed watching him,"" he said.
To watch Pears speak to media this morning on Bomber.tv click here.
Following each round of the home and away season, a panel of judges will select a NAB AFL Rising Star nominee. At the completion of the season, one of these nominees will be chosen as the 2009 NAB AFL Rising Star.
The 2009 NAB AFL Rising Star will receive a personal investment folio and a dedicated personal banker, courtesy of the National Australia Bank.
NAB will once again recognise the junior clubs that helped foster the early careers of the nominated players. NAB will present each of the 22 clubs with a NAB Club Recognition Award, a package of practical and financial resources designed to assist them in developing future champions.
The NAB AFL Rising Star is the pinnacle of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfill their dream of playing in the AFL.
