Beckmans, who played with Luke Garland and Myles Aalbers at the Murray Bushrangers in 2007, committed to the Panthers on Thursday night in a significant boost to the club’s chances of returning to finals action next season.

“It’s fantastic for us,” Lavington football director Peter Doherty said yesterday.

“Matt has a great running capacity and is already in the top four or five runners at the club, which is pretty good for a player who is about six-foot two.

“His big motor will allow us to play him across half-forward and through the midfield.”

Beckmans, 20, started his career with Riverina Football League club Turvey Park before joining the Murray Bushrangers and being snapped up by Sydney as a rookie.

He was delisted 12 months later and joined Port Adelaide where he managed eight reserve grade matches last season after running into injury.

Lavington, who slipped from runner-up to outside the top five under coach Tim Sanson in 2009, lacked goalkickers this season with captain Kade Stevens and Aalbers topping the list with 19 majors.

Beckmans has joined the Panthers along with highly-rated Heidelberg midfielder Brad Eaton, who has been ultra impressive since relocating to the Border from Melbourne.

Defender Liam Johnson, ruckman Josh Hamilton and forward Chaz Sargeant have also committed providing they are overlooked in next week’s AFL draft.

“It’s good to get a few tucked away before Christmas,” Doherty said.

“We are still working hard at finding another forward though, as that’s an area we wanted to strengthen.”

Best and fairest winner Bill Neely is unlikely to return due to work commitments in Adelaide, while Paul Sanson, Luke Brauer and Simon Bunyan are confirmed departures.