News

Tayte Pears returns to senior football

Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1

It may have been a low key return to senior football but the sight of key position prospect, Tayte Pears, playing for the Bendigo Bombers in Monday's bushfire appeal game was significant none-the-less.

Coach Adrian Hickmott said the 18-year-old (who turns 19 in two weeks) was solid in the side's victory against a Bendigo All-Stars team.

"After missing so much football he's come back very well," Hickmott said.

"He played about 60 minutes of footy at centre half back and his composure, skill, speed and knowledge of our game style was up to the standard required.

"Tayte didn't play much of the last quarter but his fitness was good and he is a strong-willed young man who works hard for the team and only ever thinks about the team."

Click here to purchase you 2009 Essendon membership.

Since being taken by Essendon in the 2007 draft with pick No.23 the West Australian has played five games and kicked two goals.

His 2008 season and 2009 pre-season have been hampered by a hip injury which required surgery.

Standing at 191cm and weighing 91kg he is expected to develop into a modern day agile key position backman.

"I think that's his best position," Hickmott said.

"This year the senior team will have a mix of key backs like Dustin Fletcher and young Michael Hurley so Tayte will fit in well. He is very disciplined to do his role and I think his future is in the backline.

"He is very strong in his defensive actions. His spoiling and chasing is good and he was able to create options coming out of the back line which was great.

"It was good to see him work so well with Cale Hooker and Tyson Slattery in defence and he cut off plenty of ball which stopped it going into their forward 50m."

Meanwhile, Andrew Welsh is well on the road to recovery following a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula sustained in an intraclub practice match in February.

His surgeon described the healing process of his injury as 'perfect' and is happy with Welsh's overall recovery regime.

"The surgeon was very happy," Welsh said.

"He said everything was very much where they wanted it to be and everything was aligned and the swelling is down so it is very positive for the early stages of the recovery period."

Welsh will be fitted with a new boot for his foot tomorrow which will allow the 26-year-old to begin swimming and riding as part of his recovery process.

"It will be good to get my new boot tomorrow which will allow me to be a lot more active because I can exercise in it and wear a shoe over it.

"The boot has a hinge which allows you to move your foot up and down and it will definitely make the recovery time a lot quicker than you would if you were stuck in the normal boot."

Brent Prismall (knee), Mark McVeigh (ankle), Kyle Reimers (quad) and Jason Laycock (foot) are the only other players remaining on Essendon’s injury list.

To read the full injury report, click here.

Click here to get your 2009 Adidas Members Polo for just $40

PLAYER PROFILE: Tayte Pears

Your comments

Latest comments on this story.

NEW! You can now view someone's Hangar profile directly from their news comments! Just click on the icon where it appears below. Haven't joined The Hangar yet? Click here for more info.

GRATE 2 C YOUR UP AND GOING GOOD SINES 4 DA DONS

- MARK JONES (posted 10/03/2009 10:27:53 PM)

Tayte Pears is all class and the sooner he gets a permanent spot in the seniors, the better. The recruitment of Pears and Myers in the same draft is one of the better things the Club has done in recent years.

- Graham Flynn (posted 11/03/2009 10:04:02 AM)

c'mon, lets get these boys out on the ground for round one!!! all very important to the team and if jason laycock can have a BIG year and fulfill his potential i have no doubt we can take it up to the top teams this year! good to have so few on the list for a change though...carn dons!!!

- Liam Doidge (posted 11/03/2009 10:27:43 AM)

Well said Graham - those two boys (Myers & Pears) really are standouts in regards poise out of defence, and will become, along with Tyson Slattery & Michael Hurley, key members of our backline for many years to come...

- Dennis Green (posted 11/03/2009 12:38:08 PM)

Tayte benefited from a season on the backline with Mal Michael. I like that Tayte can be fleet of foot out of defence and he can switch things by going forward. For a bloke of his size he may prove to be remarkably versatile.

- Barney Sneddon (posted 11/03/2009 5:18:37 PM)

Maybe a slight injury after mondays game was there and did hurt his leg and didnt play the last quarter at all ?????

- amanda castro (posted 11/03/2009 6:18:04 PM)

great news for our defensive line, which has needed improving, he is going to be a star. cant wait to get woosha and prismall on the field as well

- Trent Davey (posted 11/03/2009 6:19:00 PM)

Well said Grahm and Dennis we should have a pretty solid defence for years to come Tyson even shows glimses of one of the best defenders of the modern era in Gleen Archer it would be great to see him win the Archer-Hird Medal

- Simon Mayo (posted 11/03/2009 9:29:02 PM)

Add your own comment now!