IT IS not often that a first-year player is linked so strongly to a team other than his own, but even before he was drafted, Dayne Beams has been touted as a potential player for the new Gold Coast team.
Beams, who is this week’s NAB AFL Rising Star nominee, was drafted by Collingwood last year from the Gold Coast. His name has been constantly mentioned as a potential target for the AFL’s 17th side but he says he has fallen for the Melbourne lifestyle.
“It’s been a little bit of an adjustment in terms of the weather and traffic but I’m loving it here. I actually like it a lot better than the Gold Coast,” Beams said.
“I’ve always loved my footy and in Melbourne that’s all it is. Everyone talks about footy. I’m really enjoying my time here.
"All my teammates are fantastic and I really enjoy being around them. It’s good and hopefully we can have some success towards the end of the year.”
Beams is reluctant to talk about the prospect of returning home, but says his new club has done everything right by him.
“I haven’t even thought about it at the moment," he said. "I’m just concentrating on playing consistent footy and keeping my spot in the team.
"All that stuff will take care of itself next year or whenever the time comes. I’m really enjoying Collingwood and we’re playing some good footy.”
Beams is the latest of a raft of quality footballers to emerge from the Sunshine state, which he attributes partially to the success of 2001 NAB AFL Rising Star and fellow Southport graduate Nick Riewoldt.
“Nick’s one of the best players in the competition. As a young fella on the Gold Coast the junior clubs are always telling you that Nick Riewoldt’s from the Gold Coast and look at how he’s doing now,” Beams said.
“He’s been a good ambassador for the Gold Coast. I know as a young fella I looked up to my heroes and I’d want to know where they came from.
"If people can look up to Nick and want to be like him, then it is going to be good for footy there and you will get more people interested in the game.”
Beams said he has enjoyed his first year of senior football, having played 11 of Collingwood’s 17 games, but admits surprise at the amount of dedication required to play the game at the highest level.
“The hours that go in to it and the preparation you need for a game of footy. It’s a lot different to what I’m used to,” he said.
“Things like eating the right stuff and the things you have to cut out - coming from playing local footy and also the tempo of the game.
"I played a couple of years of senior footy at Southport. Body-wise it hasn’t been too different, just the speed and tempo of the game. Running out in front of 80,000 people is a lot different to running out in front of 100.”
