North Melbourne looking into potential trade for Leek Aleer after St Kilda backflip
A distraught Leek Aleer is currently travelling in Europe after being shafted by St Kilda. But he might not remain at GWS as a rival club weighs up a move.
North Melbourne has emerged as a potential suitor for Leek Aleer as the distraught defender holds off on signing a three-year deal with GWS.
Aleer’s manager Dylan Smith spoke to the Roos on Friday in the wake of St Kilda’s stunning backflip, pulling out of a trade for Aleer and pulling a contract that would have paid him $3m.
The Western Bulldogs are not interested despite a need for defensive cover, but North Melbourne list boss Brady Rawlings confirmed his club was “still doing the work on it”.
Rawlings had said on Monday the Roos were not in the market for key defenders, despite a dismal season in which only West Coast conceded more points.
St Kilda pulled out of their interest in Aleer despite offering him four seasons at $750,000, with his manager Smith saying on Thursday rival list bosses had labelled it a “disgrace”.
GWS is happy to keep Aleer on a deal that would pay him $400,000 over three years, a significant downgrade on the Saints contract offer.
The defender was livid about being shafted by St Kilda and is currently travelling in Europe.
It would likely only take a future second-rounder but having given up their future second-round pick for Liam Ryan the Saints pulled out of the race.
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GWS football boss Jason McCartney told Trade Radio on Friday: “Leek is absolutely shattered. He is more than welcome to play at the Giants next year but he is shock at the moment.”
His management also has St Kilda’s rising star Alix Tauru on their books, with St Kilda keen to extend his current deal past its mandatory three-season contract.
He loves the club and his management would not take out its anger on the club over Aleer, but it is a strange move by St Kilda given Tauru’s potential.
One close observer said on Friday: “St Kilda was told off by their own board about using more future picks and they panicked. He didn’t want to leave in the first place but they just played games with him.”
Clubs have told Aleer’s management they never factored in him being available and with the 24-year-old overseas on holiday it would be hard to get him to do a medical before Wednesday’s deadline.
So he will spend the next few days assessing whether that interest becomes stronger before committing the Giants offer.
But given he is more likely a third defender instead of a full back clubs might be less inclined to go hard on Aleer despite his potential as a former first round pick.
GWS defender Wade Derksen, also from the same management company, also had an offer pulled by Melbourne in recent days.
But with the Demons moving on from their coach and pursuing a different defensive strategy there is less anger about that move.
He also has rival interest so will assess that in coming days, with the other option him potentially signing a rookie deal with GWS if they can squeeze him in.
Originally published as North Melbourne looking into potential trade for Leek Aleer after St Kilda backflip
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