Dayne Beams has denied his contract payout played a part in Collingwood’s salary cap troubles that led to four players being traded.
Beams had two years to run on his contract when he announced his retirement last November after taking an indefinite mental health break from football.
Adam Treloar, Jaidyn Stephenson, Tom Phillips and Atu Bosenavulagi were all moved on by the Magpies during last year’s tumultuous trade period in a bid to free up cap space.
Beams, a premiership player with Collingwood in 2010, claims his contract payout came outside the salary cap.
Stay up to date with all the latest news from SEN. Sign up HERE.
“From a personal point of view, I guess my situation was caught up in that and there was a lot of noise around that,” Beams told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“There were obviously people hearing what they were hearing and there were 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 with my scenario was a couple of early draft picks, which was unfortunate.
“In terms of the squeeze, I think it was much broader than just me in isolation. Unfortunately, the club got itself in the position they were in and a few people had to fall out.”
Collingwood sacrificed two first-round draft picks to bring Beams back to the club from Brisbane in 2018.