Dayne Beams stands down as Brisbane Lions skipper as he mourns father’s death
Dayne Beams has stepped down from the Brisbane Lions captaincy, admitting he is struggling to cope with the grief of losing his father to cancer.
Beams had joined the Lions in 2015 after requesting a trade from Collingwood so he could be closer to his father Phillip, who had previously been diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Phillip Beams died from the prolonged illness earlier this year.
Dayne Beams, whose brother Claye is on the rookie list at the Lions, said his decision was made in the best interests of his mental health.
The 28-year-old said captaining the club had been far too challenging in the early months of the AFL season.
"I'm not going to lie, they've been bloody difficult and I've experienced some really bad lows," Beams told the Lions website.
"I think footy has been hard for me because I associated football with my father, so it feels like a big chunk of my football life is missing at the moment."
Beams said he needed to be in a "good head space", as he and his partner were expecting the birth of their second child next month.
If you or anyone you know needs help:
"I'm seeking professional help," Beams said.
"I've been getting help for the last two months. It's an emotion that's really hard to explain. I sit here comfortable knowing that I've made the right decision."
Beams' decision has drawn praise from many in the AFL community, including North Melbourne premiership player and mental health advocate Wayne Schwass.
External Link: Wayne Schwass tweets: "Just brilliant Dayne Beams"
Beams will continue to play for the Lions while stepping down from the captaincy indefinitely.
"I still love coming into the footy club," he said.
"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."
Dayne Zorko will captain the Lions.
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