Tayte Pears

D.O.B:    
24 March 1990
Club:    
Essendon 
Honours:    
2007 NAB AFL Draft Pick No. 23
2008 AFL Debut
2009 Lindsay Griffith’s Rising Star Award

Tayte, a tall and extremely athletic key defensive player, was a shining light in defense for East Perth stopping and rebounding everything that came his way. His consistent performances at U18 level earned him selection for Western Australia at the National Championships, which saw WA take out the title. He continued to shine performing extremely well at the draft camp, showing the football world alike that this boy was very athletic, had very good endurance and speed.

Tayte's key defensive attributes would impress any coaching staff and that was certainly the case at Essendon who picked him up with their second pick (No 23overall) in the 2007 National Draft. In his debutant season, Tayte played five games for the Bombers and showed enough to suggest he has a long-term future. The West Australian missed six games with a hip injury in the second half of the season but has the height and agility to hold down a key defensive position.

Pears exceeded the expectations of many in 2009 and finished the season playing 23 games, including playing in his first finals series.  The young gun took on some of the best power forwards of the AFL during the season including Jonathan Brown, Brendan Fevola, Nick Riewoldt, Matthew Pavlich and Jarryd Roughead. Tayte’s efforts against Fevola during round 13 earned the young Bomber a NAB AFL Rising Star Nomination, as he won the points in the battle with the Blues spearhead, gaining 21 touches while keeping Fevola to just two goals in Essendon's 69-point win. Following his impressive performance thorough the season, Tayte finished a remarkable sixth in Essendon’s Best & Fairest and unquestionably won the Lindsay Griffith’s Rising Star Award.

Having formed an integral part of Essendon’s young backline in 2009 and given his ability to make accurate decisions from half back, the talented forward looks to have a promising and extremely long AFL career ahead.