BEAMS TRADE UNLIKELY BEFORE DEADLINE

BRISBANE and Collingwood concede a deal for Dayne Beams will be extremely difficult three days out from the trade deadline.

Beams, 29, wants to return to Melbourne to be closer to family and reunite with some of his 2010 premiership teammates at the Holden Centre. But the brilliant midfielder is yet to submit an official request and make his intentions public because of any embarrassment it may cause if the two clubs are unable to strike a deal before Wednesday’s 8.30pm trade deadline.

Collingwood looks to be handcuffed unless it is prepared to offer a future first or second-round pick to pass on to Brisbane for Beams.

The Magpies have picks 18, 51, 56 and 57 but will need to use their top pick to snare dashing academy prospect Isaac Quaynor and father-son prospect Will Kelly under the draft points system.

News Corp understands the Lions and Magpies have made contact in recent days about Beams and have jointly conceded a deal would be incredibly challenging to clinch so late in the exchange period.

Collingwood is yet to make any offers to Brisbane about Beams and there is minimal time to try to sway other Collingwood players to move north to clinch a deal.

While the Beams camp will ramp up efforts to bring the two clubs to the negotiating table over the next 48 hours, sources yesterday said Collingwood would most likely have to fork out a future first or second-round pick to make any progress on a deal.

But Brisbane has little interest in 2019 draft picks as it looks to keep Beams, add Fremantle ball winner Lachie Neale, and jump up into the eight with an elite midfield next season.

Collingwood has one of the competition’s top midfields but could still use Beams as a goalkicking onballer next season. Beams won a best and fairest in 2012 at Collingwood but shocked the club with a request to Brisbane to be with his father. His father passed away this year, prompting a rethink on his footballing future.