FREMANTLE’S desire to land a better deal in an exchange for star midfielder Lachie Neale could be driving the Dayne Beams speculation, says Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph.

A shock return to Collingwood emerged early on Thursday morning, although Beams is yet to request a trade to the side he won a premiership for before moving to Queensland at the end of 2014 to be closer to his father, who was battling cancer at the time.

“Brisbane feel like Fremantle is causing trouble here so they can get Pick 18 as part of the Lachie Neale trade. If Collingwood gave up Pick 18 they could hand it on for Lachie Neale,” Ralph said on Fox Footy’s the Trade Lowdown on Thursday night.

“Lions boss Greg Swann labelled it today ‘reheated soup’ and he’s been assured by Beams’ manager, Paul Connors, he hasn’t and will not request a trade.

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“One aspect that will be frustrating for Brisbane — he was massively front ended, paid over a million bucks (per season). (He was) amongst the top couple of players in the competition when he started there, but now he is only on $750,000.”

Magpies coach Nathan Buckley and Dayne Beams haven’t always had the best relationship. Source: News Limited

Ralph said Collingwood star Steele Sidebottom, who is one of the Brisbane stars best friends, helped repair Beams’ strained relationship with Magpies coach Nathan Buckley this year, making a return to the black and white a genuine possibility.

“There is no doubt that him and Nathan Buckley have had something of a rapprochement. As the story goes, through Steele Sidebottom they got together and they really worked out their issues,” Ralph said.

“Beams position has been clear for a while, ‘I wouldn’t mind getting back to Collingwood, but I’m certainly not requesting a trade. I think he would like to get back but he’s not desperate.”