LACHIE Neale denies he had a rift with Ross Lyon, revealing the Fremantle coach rang him to confirm his trade would go ahead.
The midfielder says the move is purely about opportunities at Brisbane and added he had no problems at Fremantle.
The two-time Dockers best and fairest joined the Lions on a five-year deal, with the move confirmed on Wednesday's final day of the NAB AFL Trade Period.
There has been plenty of speculation about why Neale decided to move.
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"That was probably another thing that was put out there, that I don't have a good relationship with him (Lyon)," Neale said.
"But I have a great relationship with Ross – I will miss him and I'm catching up with him in the next couple of days."
Neale also denied he was unimpressed with teammates' training standards or their off-field behaviour.
"Fremantle is a really professional environment and the players this year ... those younger guys took a step forward," he said.
"That will continue for them and I wish them nothing but success, except when they play the Lions."
Neale added he had caught up with troubled Docker Harley Bennell.
"I've never been frustrated with the club and I have great relationships with all those guys (including Bennell)," he said.
"None of that is true. Every club has its ups and downs and I don't think there's an issue at Freo."
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Neale said he was made aware only late in the season that his management and Brisbane were talking.
He said it took about five or six weeks to decide he would try to join the Lions with a year left on his current Fremantle contract.
Neale said if the deal had not happened, he would have played for Fremantle next season.
He acknowledged that money was a factor in joining the Lions, but added there were other reasons.
"It was probably the toughest decision I've had in my life," he said.
"There's no reason I don't want to be at Freo, despite what some people have said. It was just a really good opportunity for me to head up to Brisbane and be a part of a really special group."
New Brisbane utility Marcus Adams also fronted the media on Friday after his trade from the Western Bulldogs.
The injury-plagued defender said he wanted a fresh start and he looked at several clubs.
Adams said Brisbane told him he will have different opportunities and he was looking forward to not playing as "the primary defender in the dungeon".