Brisbane have finally recruited Collingwood star Dayne Beams in an AFL trade that was the result of three weeks of haggling involving five clubs.
Beams requested a move to the Lions in grand final week, wanting to be closer to brother Claye and their ill father.
The 24-year-old’s wish was officially granted on Wednesday, with the Magpies receiving Jack Crisp along with picks No.5 and 25 as compensation.
“Dayne is one of the competition’s premier midfielders. He is an elite player and we are thrilled to welcome him to the Lions family,” Lions recruiting chief Peter Schwab said.
Collingwood then signed North Melbourne midfielder Levi Greenwood by on-trading the second-round selection, as a flurry of paperwork was lodged at league headquarters.
It means the Magpies added Crisp, Greenwood and pick No.5 in exchange for pick No.67 and their 2012 best-and-fairest winner.
A three-way deal involving Collingwood’s Heritier Lumumba, Melbourne ruck-forward Mitch Clark and Geelong speedster Travis Varcoe was also rubber stamped at the same time.
Collingwood wanted both trades to be ticked off at the same time.
Lumumba is now a Demon, while the Cats shipped Varcoe off to Collingwood.
“With Dayne and Heritier leaving, our objective was to make sure the team remained in a position to play finals in 2015 while continuing to build a critical mass of elite talent,” Collingwood list manager Derek Hine said.
“I think we have achieved that.”
Clark, who retired in April due to depression, will attempt to reignite his AFL career at Geelong.
Geelong football manager Neil Balme thanked Varcoe for his service, including three grand finals and 138 games, and welcomed Clark to the club.
“Throughout his career Mitch has proved he is a valuable and respected member of the Lions and Melbourne, and we are looking forward to what he will bring to our team,” Balme said.
TomC
Roar Guru
Agreed. The Pies have made some poor recruiting decisions recently. Incidentally, I think there's a strong chance that Varcoe, Greenwood and Crisp will one day all be viewed in the same way. They all have below average footskills and it is rare for mature players to fix that. I remember watching Scharenberg's highlights before last year's drafts and for me he stood out above everyone, so I won't make a judgement yet on him vs Aish. Particularly as Aish is yet to re-sign at Brisbane.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Well, at least we have experience with that! I'm sure the club will take good care of him.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Brutal! I must admit, their decision to overlook Aish for Scharenberg could be one of the all-time draft clangers if Scharenberg's feet don't come good. Will give it a few years before reserving judgment, but Aish already looks like a 250 game player, with a great football head. I will agree also that Young is an absolute spud, that chest mark he spilled against the Gold Coast Suns had me in hysterics. If it wasn't for Cameron Wood's efforts for Carlton he would have been a shoe-in for clanger of the year.
Radelaide
Guest
From what I've read it's gambling and he wants to get away from certain bad influences.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I'm assuming it's a gambling problem with Christensen?
Radelaide
Guest
This is the 3rd time Essendon have gone to mediation in 5 years at trade time.
Jake
Guest
G
Jake
Guest
It wasn't minimum fuss, it had to be done, Christensen is a mess, any club would of done what the cats did with the amount of drama and baggage he has. It's Brisbanes problem now.
Brunswick
Guest
The yap from Derek Hine about Collingwood remaining in contention for the finals during 2015, and building a critical mass of 'elite talent' is presumably intended as some form of perverse comic relief. Reality is that Varcoe's best days are a distant memory, Greenwood has put in one good season to-date, and Crisp was on track to be dumped by the Lions before the trade, which is a far cry from Beams and Lumumba who have remained in Collingwood's best 22 for the past 5 years. Collingwood's willingness to kid themselves about the ability of dud recruits to replace players of genuine talent is laughable, and echoes the worthless hype surrounding their recruitment of Lynch, White, Karnesis, Armstrong, Jordan and Young; all of whom would not get a game with a truly successful club. The Pies are gone for all money in 2015 and will finish bottom four, with Buckley [and McGuire if necessary] being forced out by years end. It is now down to Buckley to complete the picture, by squandering their latest top 10 picks on a couple more crocs who are incapable of even getting onto the park.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Agreed, Geelong get the deal done, minimum of fuss. When players want out, they let them go and get what they can from the club they want to go to. Will be interested to see what Christensen's reasons for leaving were - sounds like he had a few personal issues and needed a change of scenery.
Franko
Guest
Amazing what deals can be worked out when Essendon are not involved. Geelong must be the best club to work with at the trade table, fair and decisive.