Beams a shining light

IT was the run-with role that flew under the radar.

As Collingwood romped to a comfortable win over St Kilda, Dayne Beams claimed an important scalp.

The Gold Coast product shadowed St Kilda ball magnet Sebastian Ross throughout the day, keeping him to only 22 possessions, eight fewer than last year’s season-average.

Beams said his defensive output had been “the knock on me my whole career” and he was “working on that to make this team go all the way” in 2019. Beams wanted to smash any perception he was a oneway midfielder and coach Nathan Buckley said the Pies were “really encouraged by the direction that Beamsy is on”.

“We know he’s an elite talent but it really does matter how you jell into blokes around you and that’s coming along really well for us,” he said.