MAGPIE UNDER A CLOUD

Magpie in hospital after car hits pole

PIES star Dayne Beams’ playing future is under a cloud after he was knocked unconscious and rushed to hospital when his car veered into a pole.

The star midfielder, who is on leave of absence from the Collingwood Football Club as he battles mental health issues, was driving and was alone in the car when it crashed on Park Rd in Donvale about 4.45pm on Thursday.

Witnesses said he was unconscious in his Kia Sportage for up to 10 minutes after the airbags deployed.

Park Rd resident Brett Stanford heard a “loud bang” which prompted him to run to the accident.

“He wasn’t in a great shape,” he said. “People had stopped and were worried.”

The scene attracted police, fire crews and paramedics as well as motorists who stopped to render assistance. The crash throws the father-of-two’s playing career into disarray after he took a leave of absence twice last year to deal with mental health issues.

Since picking Beams up in the 2018 trade period, he has managed only nine games for Collingwood.

“Trying to improve my quality of life and meet the demands of playing and training for football at the elite level continues to be a struggle,” he said in December.

Beams — who forgave a 13year-old boy last year for trolling him — regularly attracts abuse on social media. He posted a video to social media earlier this month talking about how creating art lifted his mood and was his “happy place” in life.

“I wake up every morning now and I have a real purpose and a passion and I love what I do,” he said.

“I equally love the joy that I see my customers get when they receive my pieces.

“That really makes me feel good about myself.”

AFLPA general manager of player development Ben Smith said the AFL industry was always trying to bolster support mechanisms for the rising number of players struggling to deal with the pressures of the game.

“Elite athletes aren’t immune to mental health issues, so it’s not a shock when AFL players reveal they are struggling,” Smith said.

Magpies president Eddie McGuire is overseas and was unavailable to comment.