St Kilda have been named as the front-runner for off-contract GWS defender Leek Aleer, with the Giants tipped to struggle in competing with rival offers for the 23-year-old.
Aleer has played just a dozen games at AFL level since being drafted to the Giants as a mature first-round selection out of the SANFL in 2021, however has shown promising glimpses as an aerial threat in defence.
The fringe backman has struggled to break into Adam Kingsley's side given the roles of incumbent quartet Sam Taylor, Jack Buckley, Connor Idun and Harry Himmelberg, with Aleer's last game in the senior side team coming in July last year against Carlton.
Aleer played a career-high eight games in 2024, including a match-winning performance against Geelong in Round 11 that saw him earn coaches votes.
Off-contract in 2025, Aleer is expected to garner interest from rival clubs in the market for a key position defender, with St Kilda said to be the leading suitor for his services, according to SEN's Tom Morris.
The Giants are expected to be blown out of the water by the potential deals tabled to Aleer from circling clubs.
"I think Leek Aleer goes," Morris said of the Central Districts product. "St Kilda is the front-runner there.
"The Giants just can't match what is being offered elsewhere."
Brisbane have also been flagged as a club that could make a play for Aleer's signature at season's end.
The Giants also have Callum Brown, Xavier O'Halloran, Jacob Wehr and Lachlan Keeffe, among others, unsigned beyond the current campaign.
The New South Wales side has enjoyed a strong season of retention signings so far, securing new deals for Toby Bedford (2029), Finn Callaghan (2029) and Connor Idun (2032).
