DAYNE Beams has passed up the lure of the US, Europe or even Bali in favour of firing up his pre-season with the gruelling test of the Kokoda Trail.

The star midfielder joined his younger Collingwood teammate Nathan Murphy in successfully completing the 96km trek through the Papua New Guinea rainforest.  

View this post on Instagram

Beamsy and Murph have ticked off the Kokoda Trail during their off-season break. Outstanding effort boys.

A post shared by collingwoodfc (@collingwood_fc) on

It's a sign that Beams, 29, is in good shape after battling significant injuries and poor mental health throughout his first season back at the Magpies after four years in Brisbane.  

Beams played just nine games, most of which were well below his usual high standards, in 2019 as he struggled with a hip problem and a sore shoulder that eventually required surgery, ending his season in August.  

He also took several weeks away from the club mid-season to deal with his mental health, writing in an Instagram post at the time that he was "a broken man".

View this post on Instagram

Just to follow on from the statement released today from the club . I am a broken man at the moment and this is very very real for myself and the people that I love at the moment . I am not posting this for people to feel sorry for me or to speculate about my life , I am posting this because this is an issue that I will continue to shine a light on because it is real and it can be so so debilitating if it’s not treated so I plead with anyone out there doing it tough just to tell someone because in doing that you are already taking the first steps towards recovery and living a happier and loving life. Think if this were your husband , wife , child , friend experiencing the lows that come with depression ask yourself what would you do for them . Lastly to my family thank you for inspiring me to beat this illness and always having my back . I love you all . Please start having the conversations and helping each other ❤️

A post shared by Dayne Philip Beams (@beama_9) on

Beams' father died during his final season in Brisbane in 2018 and Beams was public about his battle with grief and depression in the months following.

He requested a trade back to Collingwood at the end of that season and the Pies paid a hefty price – including two first-round draft picks – to regain his services, but he was a long way off his damaging best this season.

However, Beams' successful completion of the gruelling Kokoda Trail with teammate Murphy is yet another indication he is on track to recover the form that has earned him two club champion awards and an All Australian blazer throughout his 177-game, 11-season career.

Murphy, 19, has managed two games - both at the end of 2018 - in his two seasons at Collingwood after being picked at No.39 overall in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft.