Beams to make VFL return
Reigning Copeland Trophy winner Dayne Beams will play his first game of any kind this season when he runs out alongside Tyson Goldsack for Collingwood's VFL clash with Box Hill on Saturday.
Beams, last year's Copeland Trophy winner has not played football at any level since injuring his quad at the final training session before the first game of the season against North Melbourne in March, while Goldsack has not been sighted since injuring his hip against St Kilda in round six.
"Selection for VFL was this morning so they’ll both play," said Buckley.
"For 'Beamsy', it’ll be great for him after 3-4 months (on the sidelines). It’s been a frustrating period for him and a frustrating period for us. Any time you don’t have your best and fairest winner from the year before in your side it has an impact, there’s no doubt about that.
"His last four or five weeks of training have been really solid. We’re looking for him to go and play 80 per cent of the game and get through and enjoy the game of footy again. It can get a bit wearing when you don’t get a chance to go out and play. That’s his opportunity.
“Tyson Goldsack, I think, is a very underrated and important player in our squad. In my mind he’s clearly best 22, very important for our forward structure and has the ability to swing into the backline as well as (being) a hard running player (with) great defensive pressure.
"He’s got some height that worries defenders as well so we’re looking forward to getting those two up to speed and available for senior selection very shortly."
Buckley told reporters a fortnight ago that Beams had made "a breakthrough" in his recovery after suffering a minor setback in the weeks prior.
Beams and Goldsack's comebacks will be staged at Box Hill City Oval against the Box Hill Hawks on Saturday at 2pm. The fourth-placed Hawks are one spot above the Magpies who overcame competition powerhouse Port Melbourne at Victoria Park last weekend.
Beams has not played in the VFL since the first game of last year's state league season when he returned from a shin injury against Geelong. For the record, he ended the match with 28 possessions and a goal.
Goldsack, meanwhile, last played in the VFL in 2011.