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Magpies' Beams confirms AFL retirement

3 minute read

Collingwood premiership midfielder Dayne Beams has revealed he is negotiating an end to his AFL career after losing the passion to play the game.

DAYNE BEAMS of the Lions handballs during the AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions at Metricon Stadium in Gold Coast, Australia.
DAYNE BEAMS of the Lions handballs during the AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions at Metricon Stadium in Gold Coast, Australia. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Collingwood premiership midfielder Dayne Beams has confirmed he is finished as an AFL player and is negotiating an end to his AFL career.

The 30-year-old hasn't played for the Magpies since round 11, 2019 after battling significant mental health issues.

The one-time All Australian still has two years to run on his contract but is in talks with Collingwood about a payout to that deal.

"The retirement's been a little bit of a different one," he told the Sacked podcast.

"It's not like it's been a decision where I've made it and a week later, we've released a statement and people know that I've retired.

"It's sort of been one of the worst hidden secrets. Most people know that I've retired, but it hasn't been official yet."

After four seasons with the Brisbane Lions, Beams returned to Collingwood via a trade at the end of the 2018 season.

In his second stint with the Magpies, Beams played just nine games as he struggled to cope with the death of his father Phillip in 2018.

"I stopped losing passion for footy pretty much when dad died," Beams said.

"It really started to fizzle out in me. The main reason for coming back to Victoria was to try and find that (passion for footy) again.

"It just didn't work out that way. Things happen in life. For me it no longer became a love and everything became really, really hard to do."

After being drafted in 2008, Beams burst onto the scene by featuring in Collingwood's drought-breaking 2010 premiership in just his 43rd game.

Beams won Collingwood's best-and-fairest in 2012, but after 110 games with the Magpies he requested a trade in 2014 to be closer to his ill father, who lived in Queensland.

A joint winner of the 2015 Merrett-Murray medal, Beams played 58 games for the Lions and captained the club in 2017.

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