AFL trade news: Victorian clubs continue to target Leek Aleer, Wade Derksen

They’re starring for the Giants’ VFL side but can’t get a crack in the big time – and Victorian clubs are circling two potential defensive superstars.

Victorian clubs continue to aggressively hunt Greater Western Sydney defenders Leek Aleer and Wayde Derksen with the pair unable to crack a senior game so far in 2025.

St Kilda remains the strong frontrunner for Aleer, who has been offered a two-year contract but is happy to park negotiations for the time being given his fruitless search for senior games.

Derkson’s incredible seven intercept mark game last week against Sydney last week showed he remains in dominant VFL form as the Demons’ interest remains strong.

Leek Aleer takes a mark at training. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

The 2022 mid-season draftee can play forward and back as a 194cm swingman and took 13 marks against Geelong’s VFL side on Sunday.

A former rugby player who took the field for Peel Thunder, Essendon’s VFL side and Nightcliff in the Northern Territory, he requested a trade to a Victorian club last year.

He has three young children including twins and has family reasons to get to Melbourne and this year is out of contract after the Giants ruled out a trade last year.

He averages 22 possessions, 7.4 marks and 3.4 intercept marks in six VFL games this year but is yet to make an AFL debut.

The Saints are only one of Aleer’s suitors but have long been at the front of the queue given offers of up to six years and $900,000 a season.

He has not been desperate to leave the Giants but with Sam Taylor, Connor Idun, Jack Buckley and Harry Himmelberg ahead of him in the pecking order it is hard to see how he becomes a Giants regular.

Wade Derksen in action at Giants training. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

He has averaged 2.4 intercept marks a game and has huge upside as a key position defender and interceptor.

St Kilda full back Cal Wilkie is 29 years of age but hasn’t missed a game since his debut so bringing Aleer into that defence at 23 year of age would be a perfect succession plan.

Xavier O’Halloran has found his way back into the senior team as a regular after early games as a sub after the Dogs offered him a multi-year deal last season.

He will hope to continue his recent strong form but clubs will continue to monitor his progress as a hard-nosed mid-forward.

Originally published as AFL trade news: Victorian clubs continue to target Leek Aleer, Wade Derksen