In one of the more unexpected pivots of the 2025 AFL Trade Period, St Kilda appear to have pulled the plug on their pursuit of Leek Aleer—a story that looked lock-in just weeks ago.
Aleer, after GWS’s finals exit, publicly lodged a trade request to the Saints, and many expected a deal to follow through. Instead, the Saints quietly pulled out of negotiations, leaving Aleer in limbo and fans, analysts and rival clubs asking: what changed?
The timeline: From mutual interest to collapse
- Trade request lodged
After the Giants’ elimination final defeat, Aleer confirmed in his exit meeting that he sought a trade to St Kilda.
Reports suggest St Kilda had shown serious long-term interest—even before 2025—and had pitched a lucrative four-year offer. - Saints publicly aggressive in recruitment mode
Through early trade week, St Kilda’s list bosses doubled down on their statements: they had “plenty of money to splash” and were still targeting Aleer as part of a major recruiting stretch. - Sudden exit from talks
Without formal public notice, the Saints reportedly broke off Aleer trade discussions. Sources describe Aleer as “shattered” and “blindsided” by the move.
Fox Sports described Aleer’s reaction as “livid,” with his management saying the walkback “came as an absolute shock.” - Questioned justifications
The pivotal issue appears to be trade cost: Saints reportedly balked at GWS’s asking compensation, particularly around a future second-round pick.
Others speculate that after securing key names (Silvagni, De Koning, Flanders, Ryan), the Saints reassessed their list structure and numbers and decided Aleer was no longer a priority.
Why it matters
- Reputation with players & agents
Trust is currency in trade dealings. A high-profile backflip like this may cause agents and recruits to second-guess the Saints’ reliability in future: will proposals stick or evaporate? - Defensive plan disrupted
Aleer was supposed to add depth, flexibility, and youth to a back six already in flux. Without him, St Kilda will rely more heavily on existing stocks (Wilkie, Tauru, Silvagni) and potentially sacrifice defensive balance. - Resource misallocation risk
The Saints have already committed to several expensive upgrades this period. If Aleer’s deal was contingent on salary or pick space, walking out raises questions about cap management or internal re-prioritisation. - Aleer’s options shrinking
For the 24-year-old, time is slipping. Other clubs may already be locked into their 2026 plans. GWS, despite losing leverage, may try to retain him—or sell but on their terms. - Roster signalling
When a club pursues a player and then withdraws, it signals shifts in priority. Perhaps the Saints believe their squad is now good enough—or that defensive additions will have to come via the draft or cheaper trades.
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 10: Leek Aleer of the Giants takes a seflie with fans after the round 22 AFL match between GWS Giants and North Melbourne Kangaroos at Manuka Oval on August 10, 2025 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
What next?
- Aleer’s fallback hopes
Whether another Victorian club or even a GWS contract renegotiation, Aleer’s future is far from certain. Might he re-enter negotiations late? Or accept a lesser deal to stay? - Saints’ next defensive targets
With Aleer off the table (for now), Moorabbin will probably look elsewhere—perhaps younger defenders, mix of mids sliding back, or further out-of-contract gambles. - List balance test
The Saints have heavily invested this offseason. With fewer picks left and a capped list, every move matters. How well they recover from this will tell whether they overextended or calibrated well.
