Collignwood’s Dayne Beams well held by Melbourne veteran Daniel Cross despite Magpies victory at MCG

DANIEL Cross arrived at Melbourne with few expectations. He was brought in by Paul Roos, who was smitten by Cross’s ability to teach.

Round 12: Melbourne v Collingwood Picture : Wayne Ludbey AFLR1214 Daniel Cross over the top of Dayne Beams

DANIEL Cross arrived at Melbourne with few expectations.

The delisted Western Bulldog was brought in by Paul Roos, the only man to show serious interest, with the Demons coach smitten by Cross’s ability to teach.

One of the game’s ultimate professionals, Cross was there to impart wisdom on emerging midfielders Jack Viney, Dom Tyson and Chris Salem and hopefully add to an engine room dangerously low on depth.

MATCH: SCRAPPY PIES KNOCK OFF DEFENSIVE DEES

ROBBO: WHAT A SNOOZEFEST!

ROOS: I COULDN’T BREAK THE GAME OPEN

BUCKS: ‘IT WASN’T ONE FOR FOOTY FLASHBACKS’

But it was Collingwood superstar Dayne Beams who copped the biggest lesson, held to just 19 disposals on Monday on the Demons biggest stage for the year.

Beams made amends with two crucial second-half goals and set up Travis Cloke for the sealer, but still endured his dirtiest day since possession-wise since the 2011 preliminary final.

Cross was never far away from Collingwood’s Dayne Beams. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Beams entered the Queen’s Birthday clash as the Magpies 2014 barometer — his average of 29 disposals one less than in 2012, his Copeland Trophy year.

Cross’s job short-circuited his usual midfield spark, severely wounding Nathan Buckley’s side and reflective of the ugly scrap in front of the 68,124 crowd.

In a defensive lockdown with both sides employing spares behind the ball, the line-breaking flair the Magpies’ midfield needed to penetrate the Demons wall was left to the likes of Paul Seedsman and, well, not much else.

In a match-up lasting 96 of the 99 minutes, Beams collected five limp first-quarter disposals and it took him 18 minutes of the second term to win a touch, a dinky handball following a Max Gawn turnover.

His highlight came with a goal to finish the third quarter and another to start his impressive last quarter, but Cross has to be excused for the first.

On that occasion the tattooed Queenslander gleefully collected the footy after Jay Kennedy-Harris dropped a mark from an overzealous Jeremy Howe kick and snapped truly.

What would have frustrated Buckley was that while Beams’ supreme class was rendered invisible for most of the frustrating MCG afternoon, he also couldn’t contribute defensively for the bulk of the match.

Beams failed to lay a tackle in the first three terms and won just six contested disposals, joining Brett Deledio and Jack Macrae as recent Cross victims.

He also won his sole clearance midway through the last quarter, a stat he hasn’t been held to zero in since both the 2010 Grand Finals, with Demons legend Garry Leon heaping praise on the former Dog.

And of the five players Roos secured from other clubs, it was the underrated 31-year-old, playing game No. 221 who had close to the best day as he finished with 21 disposals and six marks.

Chris Dawes battles with Josh Thomas and Lachie Keeffe. Picture: Michael Klein

Cross, a reliable midfield warrior, twice outmarked Beams in the second quarter, showing off his aerial prowess as he fights to win a contract extension past this season.

The veteran chased Beams every step of the way in the final minute of the match as the explosive Magpie rarely found space inside 50, with Cross’s pressure ensuring the snap stayed wide.

Fellow import Bernie Vince shared the honours against Scott Pendlebury, while Dom Tyson was smashed by shake Brent Macaffer’s close attention in a game littered by one-on-ones as a battle of chess unfolded from the coach’s boxes.

Originally published as Collignwood’s Dayne Beams well held by Melbourne veteran Daniel Cross despite Magpies victory at MCG