Dayne Beams steps down from Lions captaincy to mourn his dad

Brisbane star Dayne Beams has been praised for his selflessness after rescinding his captaincy of the Lions.

Dayne Beams at Lions training at the Gabba. Picture: Getty Images

Brisbane star Dayne Beams has been praised for his selflessness after rescinding his captaincy of the Lions yesterday.

The classy midfielder is mourning the recent death of his father and has been unable to spend as much time around the club as he would have liked this season.

Realising the toll this was taking on his mental health, the 28-year-old felt it would be a positive for himself and his teammates to step down as skipper. Dayne Zorko will replace him.

Beams has been undergoing counselling in recent months as he seeks to separate his enthusiasm for the game from the pain he feels at the loss of his father.

“I think footy has been hard for me because I associated footy with my father, so it feels like a big chunk of my football life is missing at the moment,” he said.

A premiership midfielder with Collingwood, Beams sought a return home after his father, Philip, fell ill with bowel cancer.

The 2012 All Australian had been part of a brat pack at the Magpies but the return home at the end of 2014 to assist his father helped him mature, even if shoulder and knee injuries robbed him of match time.

After his father’s death in March, he described the past three years he had with his father and younger brother Claye, a former Lion, as the best of his life.

“I copped some flak over my reasons for coming home, and at the end of the day I don’t care, but I think it is pretty evident as to why,” he said. “I said it to my family that the last three years have been the best of my life, not only because I got to spend them with my dad, but (that) I have really enjoyed footy again.”

After overcoming significant injuries, Beams produced his best football again in 2017, finishing second in the Lions’ best and fairest.

Despite struggling with his emotions this season, he has led with distinction on the field, averaging 25 disposals a game.

Beams stressed that he hoped by making public his struggles, he would assist others dealing with mental health problems.

And he said there was nothing wrong in taking a break to deal with your problems.

“I’m seeking professional help. I’ve been getting help for the last two months,” he said. “It’s an emotion that’s really hard to explain. I sit here comfortable knowing that I’ve made the right decision.

“I still love coming into the footy club. I still love playing the game and I’ll continue to play my role within the side. I feel like playing will be a big help for me moving forward.”

Brisbane football manager David Noble said Beams, whose wife Kelly is pregnant with their second child, would be supported by the Lions.

“He has had a lot on his plate personally with the death of his father these past six months, and with the energy required to support Kelly with the upcoming birth of their second child, we believe it is the right move for him,” he said.

As noted this week by Brisbane great Jonathan Brown on Fox Footy show On The Couch, several Lions could pick up the slack, including three-time Hawthorn premiership captain Luke Hodge.

“Don’t underestimate his influence on the group. He copped a few whacks earlier in the year … but his effort has been magnificent,” Brown said.