Josh Green, Claye Beams sign new deals with Brisbane
BRISBANE Lions have secured two key components of their plans for the future by locking away Josh Green and Claye Beams on new deals.
THE Brisbane Lions have secured two key components of their plans for the future by locking away youngsters Josh Green and Claye Beams on new two-year deals.
And is it believed vice-captain Jed Adcock is also close to inking a new contract that should see him play out his career as a Lion.
Beams' commitment to the Lions and the anticipation that Dayne Beams is about to re-sign with Collingwood for a further three years has ended speculation the two Gold Coast brothers might join forces somewhere in the AFL.
Lions football manager Dean Warren last night confirmed Green and Beams had agreed to the terms of their deals and an announcement would be made by the club within the coming days.
"It is fantastic, it is great to have two young guys like them agree to terms because we think they are an important part of our future," he said.
Warren said Green, who the club took with pick 32 in the 2010 draft, had emerged as a damaging forward in 14 games for the club but believed he could eventually force his way into the midfield.
"Green has shown us he is going to be a player of the future," he said.
"He is really, really clean, good in traffic and has good skills."
Beams has had some poor luck with injuries but has impressed the Lions with his competitiveness and work ethic and he also sets a good example around the club.
"We think he is a terrific young leader around the club," Warren said.
Beams has played 10 games for the Lions since being selected in the 2010 rookie draft.
The heavy body art that covers his arms is not the only similarity Beams has with his more accomplished older brother.
Like Dayne, a Collingwood premiership player in 2010, Claye Beams is strong bodied, courageous, a hard runner and has great finishing skills around goal.
He debuted in round 1 last year and played five matches before his season was ended prematurely after round 7 by a stress fracture in his foot.
This year has followed a similar path. He won the Rising Star nomination against Melbourne in round 1 for a tagging job on Demon Brent Maloney.
However a few weeks later, he suffered a back injury that forced him out for a couple of weeks. He came on as the substitute and booted two goals against Carlton at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium last Saturday.