The news that Dayne Beams was keen to be traded back to Collingwood during this year's trade period if possible came to a complete surprise to Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan who thought the matter had been settled.
Fagan told SEN on Thursday that Beams had been bright and bubbly in his exit meeting with the coach expressing his keenness for the upcoming season and had given no indication that he had changed his mind when they saw each other on Saturday at a fundraising event in Horsham.
Chris Fagan.Credit:AAP
The coach said Beams had not requested a trade and that despite the emotional rollercoaster he had experienced during 2018 when his father died he thought the 28-year-old had put thoughts of returning to Melbourne in 2019 behind him.
"I am puzzled by it," Fagan said.
He said the club had put their arms around the Beams brothers this year as they dealt with their grief and he had been impressed by the Beams' response and capacity to work through the challenge particularly after he decided to relinquish the captaincy.
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"I am more inclined to think I would have heard from him by now," Fagan said.
He said the Lions had not developed an official response nor a trading strategy that included Beams leaving and it would be premature to speculate about what might happen.
"I don't think anything is going to emerge in the days ahead but footy is full of surprises," Fagan said.
"He's a big part of our midfield and obviously one of the best players in the competition.
"There is no plan for him to not be part of our plans."
Peter Ryan joined The Age in 2017 having covered AFL as a senior reporter with AFL Media.
