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.""
 

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.