Dayne Beams arrived at Brisbane from Collingwood at the start of 2015, and will assume a role in the Lions' leadership team in just his second year at the Club.
The 25-year-old was elevated to Vice-Captain in an expanded leadership group headed by Captain Tom Rockliff and fellow newcomer Daniel Merrett along with deputies Daniel Rich, Dayne Zorko and Pearce Hanley.
After seven years in the AFL system, Beams is confident that he has the experience required to assist in the development of the team's young side.
“It’s something that I’ve thought about long and hard over the summer,” Beams told LionsTV.
“I guess in previous years I haven’t really seen myself as a leader at previous Club's and even last year. I was just trying to find my feet and see how the Club operated and what made blokes tick.
“For myself, it was knowing that I was ready - I think there’s a lot of things that come with leadership some people may not think about. There is a lot of responsibility that comes with it.
“I think you’ve got to be ready for it and I think that I’ve got my on field stuff sorted out and also my off field stuff sorted out as well.
“I’m in a pretty good place with life. I feel like I’m ready to take the next step and help guide these young guys to hopefully some success in the not too distant future.”
Beams and his wife, Kelly, hosted new draftee Eric Hipwood as he settled into his new Club and said the experience was nothing but positive.
“Eric was with me for about five or six weeks.
“He’s a great kid, he’s well mannered – he’s obviously had a great up-bringing from his parents.
"He’s a skinny kid, so obviously when I was cooking in the kitchen I was trying to maintain weight whereas the Club want Eric to put on probably 20kg,” Beams laughed.
“He’s going to be a great player for our Club and I’m looking forward to watching his career develop over the next few years.”
Beams said he sees his role as one that leads by example and hopes the playing group will follow.
“For me it’s not so much about being able to speak to these guys – I’ll be doing that as well – but I’d like to see myself as more of an action sort of person and hopefully they can follow and do the right things to help us move forward.
“I think sometimes it’s more them seeing what you do and being able to follow you. They see an older more experienced player doing something and they naturally want to just follow. I know I did that when I was first starting off.
“If I can set the right example for them around the Club in all the things I do within the gym, my diet, the way I look after my body – I’ve had some injuries in the past. Hopefully those guys can follow.”
He said an injury to his shoulder that required surgery and ended his 2015 season had been progressing slowly but he was on track.
“The strength and stuff is pretty good in it. It’s just more feeling confident within it to get back out there with the boys. We’ve taken the cautious approach towards it .
“I’m not too sure about NAB Cup at this stage but all things are tracking towards me being right to play round one which is the main thing, I guess.”
