Lions player Claye Beams during training at Giffin Park. Picture: Tim Marsden Source: The Courier-Mail
CLAYE Beams is determined to step out from the shadow of his older brother and stamp his own mark with the Brisbane Lions this year.
Beams is best known in Australian football circles as the younger brother of Collingwood star Dayne, but he has declared himself ready to mould his own identity in the Lions' midfield.
Dayne Beams enjoyed a breakout year in 2012 with All-Australian selection, taking Collingwood's best-and-fairest award and being elevated into the club's leadership group to go with his premiership medal from 2010.
By his own assessment, Claye Beams had a "different sort of year".
The 21-year-old from the Gold Coast won the AFL's Rising Star nomination for round 1 after shutting down ex-Demon and current Lions teammate Brent Moloney.
But he was hampered by niggling injuries and was back in the NEAFL by round 4 and stayed at state league level for the next three months.
Ever the scrapper, Beams fought his way back into the senior side by the end of the season, kicking five goals in Brisbane's last four games of the year.
He returned to the NEAFL to help the Lions reserves capture the flag and collected the Joe Grant Medal for best-on-ground in the decider with a dominant performance against the NT Thunder.
Beams will be named in Brisbane's side for Saturday's season-opener against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, armed with the lessons learned from last year's rollercoaster ride.
"The year certainly started with a bang," Beams said.
"It took me a while to fight my way back into the side but I was happy that I was able to force my way back into the seniors and win a flag with the reserves as well.
"I've had a good pre-season off the back of that. I haven't missed a session, which is something I haven't been able to do before at the Lions."
Beams has 13 senior games to his name after making his AFL debut in 2011.
He will rotate through half forward, wing and midfield this year as he tries to cement a place in Brisbane's 22.
"I definitely want to (establish myself). It has taken me a bit longer than Dayne and I still have a long way to go," Beams said.
"I can only focus on what I can do and work hard and keep trying to play good footy.
"Dayne is my best mate and I'm happy for him for all the success he has had."
Lions coach Michael Voss knows what it is like to have a sibling in the AFL with his brother Brett playing for Brisbane and St Kilda.
He said Beams was on his way to carving out his own niche.
"Brett (Voss) was able to make a real imprint in the AFL and have his own footy career and Claye is capable of doing the same thing," Voss said.
"Claye's had a good pre-season too, so he has certainly put his hand up.
"His task is now commanding a place in our best 22 on a weekly basis and he's made a good start."
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