Former Collingwood and Brisbane AFL star Dayne Beams will play for Mulwala in season 2024 and will wear his father’s legendary number 24 guernsey.
Former Collingwood and Brisbane AFL star Dayne Beams will play for Mulwala in season 2024, where his father, Phil, was a seven-time best and fairest legend.
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His first game will be at Mulwala’s Lonsdale Reserve, on Good Friday, in which Mulwala, last year’s premiers, will take on the runners-up, Congupna; Yarrawonga will play at the venue’s blockbuster weekend, on Sunday.
The huge-news signing, which was confirmed on Monday, will see Beams, who will turn 34 in February, join the Mulwala Lions wearing his father’s (Phil ‘Teapot’ Beams) legendary number 24 guernsey.
Beams, one of AFL’s elite midfielders, played a total of 177 AFL games from 2009 to 2020, (119 with Collingwood and 58 with Brisbane including as captain in 2019 and 2020) booted 172 goals, was the 2012 3AW Player of the Year and selected in the All-Australian Team of the Year.
He was selected in the 2008 AFL Draft by Collingwood and played 110 games before he asked to be traded to Brisbane after the 2014 season to be closer to his ailing father and to play with brother Claye.
Dayne Beams playing for the Collingwood Magpies, where he played a total of 119 games, expresses his delight after kicking a goal against Geelong at the MCG in 2019. Photo AAP.
Beams then played 58 games with Brisbane from 2015 to 2018. In early 2016, he became one of four vice-captains and before season 2017, was made captain, a position he relinquished in 2018 to deal with the passing of his father.
Philip Beams passed away on February 28, 2018 at age 56-years, after losing his battle against bowel cancer. Hundreds of people locally, together with players and officials from the Collingwood and Brisbane clubs, attended the funeral service at Mulwala Lawn Cemetery where Dayne delivered a tribute about his Dad.
Unfortunately, Dayne never got to see his Dad play football.
“I grew up idolizing Dad,” Dayne said.
“He was my hero, he was everything to me. I had him on a pedestal. I just felt so safe when I was around Dad.
“I don’t like being in the spotlight. Some people think I’m angry or arrogant but I’m shy. Dad understood me. He was amazing.”In an emotional interview with McLachlan, Beams tells of his dad’s rapidly declining health and how the year 2017 was “horrible” and “just hell for me” watching his dad dying.
Born in Yarrawonga and moving to Queensland at age four, Dayne is one of the biggest names in football ever to play locally.
Philip Beams was a multi club and league best and fairest winner for the Mulwala Lions.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Following a spell from football, Beams played with Pearcedale in the Mornington Peninsula league in 2023.
Friend and co-coach of Mulwala, Bodhi Butts, said Beams had opportunities to play elsewhere.
“But it’s something he wanted to do, to play where his Dad did, and he thinks this is the right time to do it. He wants to do it,” Butts said.
“Dayne has such a wealth of knowledge and experience and wants to do some junior nights. We couldn’t be more rapt!”
Mulwala Football Netball Club officials are delighted at the signing of their latest recruit.
“Dayne will be an excellent acquisition to the football club, following in the footsteps of his Dad,” club football manager Dale Ferguson said.
“To have a player of his experience at Collingwood and Brisbane will be invaluable to our younger guys. He will be absolutely sensational.”
Club president Chris McNamara agreed.
“Dayne just won’t be a drawcard for Mulwala supporters but for the whole of the Murray league,” the president said.
“He was a tremendous footballer at the highest level, and we already have guernsey number 24 waiting for him.”
That number was made famous by his popular and respected dad.
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