Beams back in show of toughness

BRISBANE coach Chris Fagan says skipper Dayne Beams ranks high on the toughness Richter scale.

Beams has recovered from a shoulder injury and has been named to lead the Lions on to the Gabba against Geelong tonight.

However, the Cats have also been boosted by the return of their skipper Joel Selwood from concussion.

No one who saw Beams being assisted from the Gabba after copping a heavy bump from aggressive GWS ruckman Shane Mumford in Round 14 would have expected him to be playing tonight.

He had a strained AC joint but because there was no major structural damage that required surgery, his return date was to be determined when mobility returned and the pain was bearable.

The club’s injury report listed him as likely to miss three to four weeks but he sat out just the one match, the victory against Essendon last week.

Fagan said he was surprised when Beams was given the allclear from medical staff to play.

“I must admit, I didn’t expect him to play this week,” he said.

“I would say on the Richter scale of toughness, Beams is pretty tough.”