Dayne Beams racked up 25 disposals in his return as Collingwood beat the Crows

THE COMEBACK: IT was a measure of Dayne Beams' ball-hunting abilities that he could even have an impact on Friday night.

AFL Round 16: Collingwood v Adelaide

IT was a measure of Dayne Beams' ball-hunting abilities that he could even have an impact on Friday night.

Watch the AFL's elite struggle after missing a couple of rounds ... and he was playing his first senior game since being crowned Collingwood's best and fairest winner.

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Whatever the outcome of the contest, the Magpies can be content that Beams will only get better with more match-toughing as a valuable top-up midfielder in the run to the finals.

To finish with 25 possessions was an admirable achievement after more than four months out with that aggravated thigh muscle injury.

Not surprisingly, Beams was outshone by midfield colleagues Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury and 200-gamer Luke Ball.

But he underlined his quick hands and feet in the crushes after starting each quarter on the interchange bench.

Such a class act was never going to be wasted for long being idle on the bench and the comeback Pie was quickly activated, generally to provide a breather for the prolific Swan.

It was obvious even before the game that Beams wasn't going to be eased back even after such a long absence.

He warmed up pre-game with those midfield mates Swan, Pendlebury and Ball, rehearsing the centre clearances from ruckman Ben Hudson's tap work.

Beams started on the bench, but the game clock hadn't even ticked over two minutes before he was swung into action.

That initial appearance proved touch-less as the tattooed Magpie struggled to readjust to the AFL's frenetic tempo.

The contest was nearly 12 minutes old before his first touch of the season, a centred handpass that set free Pendlebury who missed right from 25m.

But the premiership midfielder started to warm to his work in the second quarter when a crushing tackle on Patrick Dangerfield drew a free kick and another Pies' centre clearance.

Already, it looked like Beams had simply picked up where he finished his stellar 2012 season with his ability to find the ball in the heavy traffic and have the time to make full use of it.

With four minutes left in the half, he roosted a long ball deep where Brent Macaffer crumbed the goal that pulled Collingwood level for the first time.

With 12 possessions, three tackles, a score assist and nearly 80 percent game-time, the underdone Beams appreciated the half-time break.

Now it's all about whether that troublesome thigh's discomfort today is nothing more sinister than the normal post-game aches and bruises.