DAYNE Beams says the Brisbane Lions are closer to winning a premiership than former club Collingwood.
Beams' transfer was one of the biggest moves of the NAB AFL Trade Period, eventually completed after much to-ing and fro-ing between the Lions and the Magpies.
As part of a five-way deal involving the Magpies, Lions, Geelong, Melbourne and North Melbourne, Beams and pick No.67 were sent to the Lions in exchange for picks five, 25 and midfielder Jack Crisp.
Beams stressed his move was made purely for family reasons, but when asked to declare whose flag window was more ajar, the star midfielder's response was intriguing.
"Brisbane," he said with a slight smirk.
Beams was in New York with close friend Heath Shaw and former Magpie teammates Clinton Young, Jarrod Witts, Paul Seedsman and Steele Sidebottom when the deal went through.
"It was a bit of a process and I sort of felt like the meat between the sandwich at times, but I knew that was going to come," Beams said in Melbourne on Friday.
"It was a relief. We were out for dinner and the boys had a few beers for us so it was good."
Beams declared he would still be at the Magpies in 2015 if not for his father Phillip's cancer diagnosis.
The 2012 Copeland Trophy winner's decision to leave Collingwood was made after much deliberation and seeing the state his father was in during the middle of this year made the longing for home too hard to resist.
Thankfully, Phillip Beams is on the road to recovery and is in the remission stage of his treatment.
"It's been something I've been thinking about since receiving the phone call from my old man saying he was sick," Beams said.
"It hasn't been a decision I've made in the space of two weeks, it's been something that I've thought about a lot through the year.
"To me my family's everything. My decision was based purely around that and what was going to be best for me, my missus and the rest of my family as well."
Telling coach Nathan Buckley he was "off the bus" was tough, but having the conversation with Magpies president Eddie McGuire was another thing.
"I was more nervous telling Eddie than I was Bucks," Beams said with a chuckle.
"I've been open and transparent with Bucks all through this year with the circumstances regarding my family and stuff.
"So I don't think he was too surprised."
With Beams and Allen Christensen key additions to the Lions' midfield which already includes younger brother Claye, Tom Rockliff, Jack Redden and Pearce Hanley, the club's ambitions are high.
"I've got no doubt with the list that we've got we can play finals in 2015," Beams said.
"If you went into a pre-season thinking you couldn't play finals then you're wasting your time."
Beams is set for a round one showdown with his former teammates when the Lions take on the Magpies at the Gabba in round one next season.
