After turning 18 on March 24, Tayte Pears, will record another major milestone when he plays his first game for the Bombers.

Team Manager, David Calthorpe, said the club is excited by the debut of Pears.

“This is an important night for Tayte and for the club, because we think he is going to be a valuable player for us, especially in defence, for many years to come.

“We think he can he can hold down a key defensive post long-term and he is an important part of our succession plan for players like Mal Michael and Dustin Fletcher.

“Tayte is still very young but he showed some good signs in the pre-season competition and we think he is physically ready to play AFL footy.

“This will be an exciting game for fans eager to see the first debutant from the 2007 draft.”

Pears was Essendon’s second pick in the 2007 draft taken with pick 23 (David Myers was taken with pick 6).

He is 190cm, 92 kg and is from East Perth in Western Australia.

Pears played in the backline in the championship winning under/18 WA team last year and was unlucky to miss out on All-Australian selection.

Born on March 24, 1990 he was not even one year old when the Bombers played Collingwood in the 1990 Grand Final.

Pears has been brought into the team after Angus Monfries was a late withdrawal with a virus.