Collingwood's Dayne Beams says AFL finals performances a notch down on his home-and-away form last year have left him with a burning desire to prove himself this September.

The 21-year-old has already achieved far more than most footballers his age.

His first two seasons on Collingwood's list yielded six finals, two grand finals and a premiership and an impressive sixth placing in the Magpies' best and fairest last season.

During his 57 AFL games, he has averaged more than 20 disposals and a goal per match, with his average this season 24 disposals and 1.5 goals per game.

But it is his combined tally of just 80 touches and two goals in his six finals, including 12 and 11 disposals in each of the two grand finals against the Saints last year, that bothers him and in his third year with the Magpies, he feels it is time to do better.

"The coaches did show that faith in me and I do feel that expectation that I have to not let them down in a sense," Beams said.

"(I have to) be able to go out there and play a role and be able to impact the scoreboard and just do all the little things that I've been doing the past six weeks.

"The challenge for me is I didn't have the best finals series last year and that's left a little bit of a burning desire in me."

Beams said his sense of obligation grew when he was put straight back in the senior team late this season, after eight weeks out with a foot injury.

In his six games since, he has kicked 11 goals and not dipped below 25 touches, suggesting he is ready for a big finals impact, starting on Saturday against West Coast.

Beams said his own early-career experience suggested the many Eagles players set to experience finals football for the first time on Saturday might take time to find their feet.

"The intensity does step up a level and outside expectations also step up," he said.

"So hopefully it can help us in that little way and hopefully we'll get the result this Saturday."

In contrast, fellow third-year Magpie Steele Sidebottom, who was close to Collingwood's best in both grand finals last year, said that was no guarantee he could perform similarly this year.

"I don't want to dwell on last year and think it's just going to happen quite easily for me," Sidebottom said.

"It's good for me knowing that I did get a kick last year, but it's obviously a totally different thing now and different game.

"I'll still need to work as hard as I have been during the season and try to get a kick again."

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