Leek Aleer set to be dropped again, but Adam Kingsley adamant his future lies at GWS

Leek Aleer faces the chop after eight straight games as the Giants prepare to welcome three big names back for the Sydney Derby, but Adam Kingsley remains adamant the out-of-contract defender is still wanted by the club.

Giants defender Leek Aleer is likely to make way for the return of Sam Taylor in Friday’s Sydney Derby, but GWS remain adamant that they want the out-of-contract star to remain at the club.

Taylor is set to make his comeback after spending a month on the sidelines with a broken toe. He is set to be joined by Jesse Hogan (foot) and Josh Kelly (hip), with the star players all getting through main training on Wednesday morning at Engie Stadium.

It means there will be some tough decisions for Adam Kingsley, and after a slight dip in form and a bit of soreness, Aleer is the one likely to make way.

“It’s clearly a really important game for us, so to be able to get our best players back out there is really important,” Kingsley said.

Sam Taylor’s return could end a prolonged run in the team for Leek Aleer. Picture: Brett Costello

“Leek didn’t do much today, he was a bit sore, we’ll assess that again with our medicos. But he probably looks unlikely to play at this stage, I would think.

“In terms of other parts of the ground, I think it’s going to be a really difficult decision and a difficult match committee that we’re going to have. Some unlucky guys are going to miss out.”

Aleer, 23, has been the subject of constant speculation this season surrounding his playing future. After spending the first part of the year in the Giants’ VFL side, it appeared likely that he would be playing elsewhere in 2026 and beyond.

However, he has played in each of the last eight games for the Giants, with Kingsley’s side losing only one match in that stretch.

St Kilda is set to renew its interest in Aleer again this off-season, with a $3 million deal over four years reportedly on the table for the 23-year-old. With limited cap space at the Giants, it will be hard for the club to get anywhere near a deal of that size for their fourth-string key defender, and many expect Aleer will seek a trade as a result.

But Kingsley remained adamant that the Giants will do everything they can to keep Aleer at GWS, and praised him for his mentality throughout this period.

Kingsley admitted that Aleer’s form had been “a little bit down” of late, but still wants to keep the defender long term. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

“I think he’s handling it extremely well,” Kingsley said. “I haven’t noticed a change in behaviour at all throughout the course of the season.

“He’s head down, bum up and getting to work, making sure he prepares really well and then performing well. That’s where his focus lies. Now, maybe in private time it’s different, but when he presents at the club, that’s what I see.

“His decision will be his decision. As I’ve said, we hope he stays. We know there’s a lot of interest in him, and he’s going to be a really good player, we know that. We’d love to be able to keep him, but we’ll just keep doing our thing.

“He’s been playing quite well, probably a little bit down last week, but all in all, been really important for us.”

Kingsley’s main focus is trying to get on top of the Swans on Friday night, a challenge he hasn’t accomplished in his previous five attempts, to help the Giants’ own finals chances.

The task won’t be any easier with Sydney’s midfield group led by Brodie Grundy and Isaac Heeney firing on all cylinders. But the Giants are in a similar vein of rich form, and led by leading All-Australian candidate Tom Green, and a potential tagging return for Bedford, Kingsley is confident his side can get the job done.

Toby Bedford is set for more midfield minutes as the Giants look to curtail the Swans’ midfield influence. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“They’ve managed to have us covered over the past two years,” Kingsley said. “We need to do something about that, not just to beat the Swans, but it’s important for our season.

“We’ve got a bit of wiggle room (on the ladder), but we’d like not to use that. We’d like to win every game we play. It’s important that we start the game well; we didn’t do that last time so we’ll be eager to do that.

“I think that we’re all in agreement that losing five consecutive against an opposition isn’t where we want to be. We need to make sure that we take care of some of their really important players. Toby is that man, and I think we’ll probably utilise him more inside this week than what we have.

“We could finish in the top four, or we could also miss the eight. That’s how finely this season is playing out. We need to make sure that we play our brand in each game, and that gives us a good chance to beat anyone we play.”

Originally published as Leek Aleer set to be dropped again, but Adam Kingsley adamant his future lies at GWS