Retired Collingwood premiership star Dayne Beams says his contract was settled outside of the AFL club’s salary cap and did not contribute to the Magpies’ infamous trade period fire sale.
Beams’ retirement was formalised last November, with the now 31-year-old calling it quits following serious struggles with his mental health.
But in an interview with SEN on Wednesday to talk about Nathan Buckley’s departure as Collingwood coach, Beams, unprompted, offered the startling claim.
“My situation was, I guess, caught up in that (Collingwood’s disastrous trade period),” Beams said.
“There was a lot of noise around that, and there was a few wires crossed.
“Anything that was negotiated with me and my contract was outside the cap, so I actually had nothing to do with anything that went on there.
“The only thing that they probably lost in my scenario was a couple of early draft picks, which is unfortunate.
“In terms of the (salary cap) squeeze, it was much more broader than just me.
“As long as the truth … is communicated to people, that’s all you can really ask for.
“Unfortunately the club got themselves in the position they were in that a few people had to fall out.”
Star midfielder Adam Treloar, dynamite young forward Jaidyn Stephenson and hardworking wingman Tom Phillips were forced out last November as Collingwood dealt with significant salary cap issues.
It was believed Beams’ contract, which still had two years to run, had exacerbated those issues.
Beams, who finished on 177 games, returned to the Collingwood for his second stint at the club from the Brisbane Lions at the end of 2018.
