Collingwood star Dayne Beams has made a welcome early start to pre-season training, completing a solid running session as the Magpies kicked off their campaign for 2020.
Beams, whose first season back with Collingwood was restricted to just nine appearances by a combination of hip and shoulder injuries that required surgery, along with ongoing mental health issues, arrived at the Holden Centre as the club's first-to-fourth-year players were put through their paces at Olympic Park on Monday.
After the main group left the field, Beams took to the running track in the warm conditions and showed he was keen to work himself into shape for the official start of pre-season for the Woods' more experienced players on December 2.
Beams, who will turn 30 in February and has three years remaining on his deal with the Magpies after returning to the club following four seasons with Brisbane, ran for about an hour, completing a series of 150 to 200m runs, initially with a member of the Pies' conditioning staff before driving himself for the majority of the session.
Dayne Beams back at the Holden Centre on Monday. Picture: Michael Willson
This positive development comes just weeks after the gun midfielder hiked through the arduous 96km trek along the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea.
However, there was a minor scare when luckless youngster Nathan Murphy hurt his right shoulder in an innocuous incident while trying to mark. The smooth-moving utility, who hardly played this year after suffering a series of injuries, left the field for treatment but returned five minutes later and ran laps seemingly without further discomfort.
Runnin’ pic.twitter.com/IR1FOj6oWw
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) November 18, 2019
The Pies youngsters, including former Swans big man Darcy Cameron, were encouraged by the appearance of a sprinkling of senior players including skipper Scott Pendlebury, Chris Mayne and Jordan Roughead.
Scott Pendlebury in impressive shape on Monday. Picture: Michael Willson
Forward/ruckman Mason Cox also trained after receiving season-ending eye surgery, while Tom Langdon (knee), Josh Daicos (ankle) and Tim Broomhead were on limited duties.
Delisted veteran defender Lynden Dunn is training with the club in the hope of landing a spot on the club's rookie list. Dunn just ran laps in his quest to return from a second knee reconstruction at Collingwood.
Lynden Dunn working hard in hope of a rookie spot. Picture: Michael Willson