Watch "The winners' circle" in the rooms after the win Watch debutant Dayne Beams speak to CTV after his 18 disposal performanceDebutant Dayne Beams didn’t think he would be playing for the senior side against Melbourne on Saturday, but after Dale Thomas pulled out with an illness, the emergency-listed 19-year-old received the call up with only hours to spare before the first bounce.
“I got up at 7 am and went down to Geelong ready to play in the VFL, ready to go, and Paul Licuria (VFL manager) came in and said, 'Take your boots off mate,'" Beams told CTV in the rooms after his side’s 53-point win.
“I thought what’s going on here? And he just said, 'You have got a game in the ones.'”
Beams made the one hour drive back up the highway in time for the game where he had 18 possessions, six tackles, five marks and one goal.
“It’s every boy's dream as a youngster to get there and play your first game...and to have a win is even better.”
After playing in the final three NAB Cup pre-season matches, Beams admitted there was a major difference between the regular season and the pre-season.
“There’s a massive difference. The speed is a lot quicker and you have to adjust to that.
“We have had a really good pre-season and with our fitness we ran over them (Melbourne) at the end.
“It was a really good effort by the boys. I was stoked.”
Late in the fourth quarter Beams ran off to the bench to the cheers of the
Collingwood supporters.
“Yeah, they are a loud bunch aren’t they? They are great.
“The supporters are what keep the club going. They were fantastic.”
