Shocking U-turn by St Kilda leaves Aleer in limbo
In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the AFL trade period, St Kilda has backed away from pursuing Giants defender Leek Aleer. What began as a high-stakes pursuit quickly dissolved, leaving Aleer scrambling to secure a new AFL home before next Wednesday’s deadline.
Inside the backflip: why the deal collapsed
Aleer’s agent, Dylan Smith from Centimetre Perfect Global, described the move as an “absolute shock,” noting the Saints had wooed Aleer for two years, arranged meetings, and even framed the Saints as the perfect career move. The sticking point appears to be draft picks — Saint Kilda reportedly could not secure the future second-round pick they needed, a reality that forced the deal to fade away by Thursday.
Saint Kilda’s own Graeme Allan suggested the club would “still go fishing” for a target, but the timing and value of the backflip raised eyebrows across the industry. The request for a future second-round pick, coupled with the Saints’ existing list strategy and salary considerations, culminated in a decision that surprised Aleer and his management team.
What this means for Aleer and the trade market
Aleer now faces an uncertain path as he eyes a new home with six days remaining in the trade period. Several clubs are reportedly weighing options, with the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, and North Melbourne among potential suitors for a tall, athletic defender. Yet the market is tight, with other clubs having already locked in defensive plans and salary cap realities to manage.
For Aleer, the immediate task is to find a club willing to take on a player who was once the Saints’ focal point of a long-term defensive rebuild. His camp has indicated that other clubs are in contact, but the lack of a concrete deal underscores the complexity of negotiating mid-season list moves when draft picks and salary considerations are hotly debated.
Salary cap, list spots, and the bigger picture
Salary considerations and list spots are central to this saga. St Kilda has pursued significant player upgrades this off-season, including ambitious extensions and a high-value add to the defensive stocks. It’s plausible that the Saints weighed the cost of Aleer against other priorities, including potential moves for players like Jack Steele and Rowan Marshall. The standstill with Geelong over Marshall and limited movement on Steele links add layers to why the club may have preferred to pull back on Aleer rather than pressure a deal they couldn’t close at the price they were prepared to pay.
Looking ahead: what’s next for the Saints and Aleer?
With Aleer still in limbo, the door remains ajar for an eleventh-hour move, potentially even for nothing if a willing club is prepared to absorb his contract. The Giants could also play a part if they restructure or create a list spot, although they’ve indicated they’re comfortable with their current defensive setup. For now, the AFL world watches as the trade clock ticks down, waiting to see where Aleer lands and whether St Kilda revisits the deal if the market shifts in the coming days.
