While coach Nathan Buckley largely kept faith with the side which delivered a resounding 41-point victory over Carlton, the lure of selecting Beams ultimately proved irresistible, with the 2012 All-Australian’s 28 disposal performance at VFL level last weekend confirming his readiness for senior footy.
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Beams’ return arrives at a critical juncture in the Magpies season, and marks the first time since round two last season that Buckley has been able to select his first choice midfield line of the 23-year old, Luke Ball, Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan.
Buckley said he is relishing the prospect of fielding the Premiership quartet for only the third time in his tenure at the helm of the Magpies.
“He was very good (at VFL level) and is a player who comes to hand quite quickly physically,” Buckley said.
“It will be the first time Beams, [Luke] Ball, [Dane] Swan, [Scott] Pendlebury … have played in the same team since round two last year. As a coach, I am pretty happy to have access to that.”
Following a breakout 2012 campaign, Beams was expected to take further strides forward this season, with an impressive NAB Cup serving to justify already lofty expectations.
However, an apparently innocuous quadriceps strain sustained on the eve of round one whilst participating in a kicking drill served to derail his season, with a graver than expected prognosis compounded by injury relapses when seemingly on the cusp of a return.
Indeed, Beams’ wretched run ultimately necessitated a conservative approach to his recovery, with a sustained tilt at the Premiership clearly front of mind.
Such a mindset would appear to have paid dividends judging by the success of Beams’ return to VFL action, with two late goals confirming the midfield gun was back, consigning rookie Ben Kennedy to the emergencies list.
With Beams now having vacated Collingwood’s injury list, and utilities Lachlan Keeffe and Tyson Goldsack both named emergencies, the Magpies are well placed to finally field an outfit resembling its best 22, particularly in light of the anticipated respected recoveries of Quinten Lynch and Darren Jolly.
While presenting Buckley with somewhat of a selection dilemma, the glut of players returning to fitness in the coming weeks will be a welcome headache, particularly as Collingwood seeks to build momentum and stake a late claim for the top four.
Collingwood v Adelaide
Round 16
Friday 12 July
MCG, 7.50pm
Collingwood
B: Nathan Brown, Nick Maxwell, Ben Reid
HB: Clinton Young, Heath Shaw, Marley Williams
C: Steele Sidebottom, Brent Macaffer, Luke Ball
HF: Jamie Elliott, Jarrod Witts, Dane Swan
F: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Josh Thomas
Foll: Ben Hudson, Scott Pendlebury, Jarryd Blair
Int: Andrew Krakouer, Ben Sinclair, Paul Seedsman, Sam Dwyer
Emg: Tyson Goldsack, Lachlan Keeffe, Ben Kennedy
IN: Dayne Beams
OUT: Ben Kennedy (omitted)
Milestones: Luke Ball (200 games), Steele Sidebottom (100 games)
