Magpies scrape past Demons to stay in top-four battle
Collingwood remain in the hunt for a top-four AFL finish after consigning Melbourne to more misery with a 17-point defeat at the MCG.
Collingwood’s Dayne Beams is taking an indefinite break from the AFL to focus on his mental health, the star midfielder intent on regathering himself after a difficult year.
Beams has said he will not return until he has dealt with his mental health issues, but is confident he can again dedicate himself to the sport.
The 29-year-old stepped down as captain of the Brisbane Lions last year as he struggled to come to terms with the death of his father in March.
“I have been on the record in the past about the battles I have fought,” Beams said in a club statement released on Wednesday.
“Right now, I need to step away and regather myself.
“I hope people will understand that this is something I need to do for myself and, importantly, my family.
“Our wellbeing is the highest priority.”
Beams, the Pies’ second-round pick in 2008, was traded to the Lions after the 2014 season to be closer to his dad as he battled cancer.
He returned to Collingwood via the October trade period, but was troubled by a hip problem in nine senior appearances.
He underwent surgery after round 11, which would have seen him struggle to return this season.
Beams is a best-and-fairest winner at Brisbane and Collingwood, an All Australian in 2012 and was part of the Pies’ 2010 premiership side.
The Roar encourages all readers who may be suffering from mental illness to seek support from organisations such as Lifeline, Beyond Blue or Headspace.
Collingwood remain in the hunt for a top-four AFL finish after consigning Melbourne to more misery with a 17-point defeat at the MCG.
Collingwood big man Mason Cox is the latest Magpie to be grounded for the AFL season.
Yet another Collingwood season unravels into a mess of injuries.
Collingwood’s big loss to Richmond has left them outside of the AFL’s top four but coach Nathan Buckley insists the Magpies aren’t far off their best.
These sides might be positioned fourth and fifth on the ladder, but their seasons appear to be heading in drastically different directions.
To fully understand Collingwood’s unraveling over the last couple of months, you need to look past the current muckraking about internal issues.
