Brisbane midfielder Dayne Beams has on Wednesday announced he will be stepping down as captain of the Lions for the 2018 season.
Beams has also removed himself from the club's 2018 leadership group, as he deals with personal off-field issues.
Dayne Zorko will step up and become the club's captain for the remainder of the season, while Harris Andrews has been promoted to vice-captain.
“I’ve reached the decision today, I feel like it’s in the best interests for myself and my family that I hand over the captaincy to Dayne Zorko indefinitely," Beams told lions.com.au.
“Obviously the last three months for myself, I’m not going to lie, they’ve been bloody difficult, and I’ve experienced some really bad lows.
“I think footy’s 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. So, I just feel like I need some time to find where I belong in the game. And just find my feet again and find my love for the game again.
“I still love coming into the footy club."
Brisbane's General Manager of Football David Noble backed Beams' decision, and believes Zorko will be a perfect replacement.
“Dayne brought this to us recently to discuss his leadership role. He has had a lot on his plate personally the past six months, and with the energy required to support Kelly with the upcoming birth of their second child, we believe it was the right move for him,” Noble said.
“We are confident that the leadership group that supported Dayne are more than capable to lead this Club and want to congratulate Dayne Zorko and Harris Andrews on their new roles as Captain and Vice-Captain of the Lions.
“It is moments like these we are fortunate to have a leader like of Luke Hodge with our Club, and along with our leadership group, he can offer support to Zorko and Harris where appropriate.”
