Eager to end speculation about his future, Beams has signed a new two-year deal with the Magpies which will ensure he stays at the Lexus Centre until the end of the 2012 season.
“Obviously I had options,” Beams said following training at Gosch's Paddock on Tuesday morning. “(But) it wasn't really a tough decision in the end.
“I wanted to stay at Collingwood. They gave me the chance to stay here so I took it and I'm very thankful.”
Beams, the Pies' second-round pick in last year’s NAB AFL Draft at number 29 overall, was born in Yarrawonga in Victoria but grew up on the Gold Coast and played for AFLQ club Southport.
He opted to enter last year’s draft where Collingwood swooped. After an impressive debut season which has netted 14 senior matches and a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination, many believed he would be a target of the AFL’s 17th club.
However Beams said he was unaware of any overtures from the Gold Coast.
“I’m not too sure [if the Gold Coast wanted me],” he said.
“If they did they would have gone through my managers, and they never said anything to me.
“Just for the security I was pretty keen to get it over and done with just to stop the speculation and that sort of thing, so it as good to get it done so early and I’m just worrying about finals now.”
The 19-year-old said there was no pressure from those closest to him to return to his home state, with his parents and family urging him to stay at the Pies.
He said his first year at AFL level had exceeded his expectations from a personal point of view.
Beams played his best match during Saturday’s belting of Richmond, and he is now working on staying in the senior side as the Magpies embark on their September campaign.
“At the start of the year I didn’t really expect to play senior footy,” he said.
“I just tried to come here and do everything possible to play senior footy at the start of the year and I’ve been able to play 14 games now and stay in a team that’s sitting in the top three at the moment.
“It’s been good and I’ve got a lot of support around me … coming to Collingwood, it’s probably the biggest club in Australia so [staying] was a pretty easy decision to make, really.”
