Bendigo Bombers coach, Adrian Hickmott, says that emerging key defender, Tayte Pears, improved significantly in his third game back from injury on Friday.
The 19-year-old (today is his birthday) took on All-Australian, Collingwood forward Paul Medhurst in the VFL practice match and Hickmott believes, with a bit more game time, he will be ready to play plenty of senior football in 2009.
""Tayte can play the game, there is no doubt about that,"" Hickmott said.
""He missed a lot of footy through hip injuries and it kept him to about eight games last year. I think he is a well composed young man that can certainly play senior footy this year.
“It was just good to see him get through the game but we can also take positives such as his aggression towards the ball and his skills under pressure.
“From my view, as development coach, I could see quite an improvement in his ball skills, particularly kicking and that his body is stronger meaning he can take a tackle without coughing up the ball, which for a backman can often mean an opposition goal.”
Pears held his composure despite coming under plenty of pressure in what was a very one-sided affair at Gosch’s Paddock. Collingwood defeated a young Bombers side by 114 points.
Essendon second year players Pears and John Williams were granted special permission to play and Hickmott says they will take some valuable game time away with them heading into the start of the season.
