GWS captain Toby Greene has denounced St Kilda's off-season tactics that saw them withdraw their significant contract offer to Giants key defender Leek Aleer, a move that left the 24-year-old "rattled".
The Saints had expected to have Aleer join them by the deadline once the exchange period commenced after reportedly "wining and dining" the emerging talent for over a year.
However, the success of signing Jack Silvagni as a free agent, a balancing act with their list spots, and negotiations with GWS all played a part in a trade falling through.
St Kilda had already worked through a busy off-season window in a matter of days, signing Silvagni, Tom De Koning, Liam Ryan and Sam Flanders.
While Greene conceded decisions like these come from the nature of the current AFL landscape, he said the decision from St Kilda did the promising defensive talent "dirty".
"[Aleer] was a little bit rattled," Greene said at an Amazon Prime event on Friday.
"It certainly came as a surprise, and the Saints probably did him dirty a bit, but that's footy as well.
"They had every right to do that. It's the way footy is going, with player movement."
Ultimately, Aleer recommitted to GWS on a two-year contract on reportedly significantly less money than what St Kilda had tabled to him. North Melbourne were also in the hunt to acquire his services but similarly could not offer Aleer a substantial contract to the likes of St Kilda's.
While Aleer's return to GWS was not his original plan, seeking a move for more consistent senior opportunity - he's played 25 AFL games in four seasons - Greene said the club is more than happy to welcome him back into their facilities for pre-season.
"It helps us, we get [Aleer] back, and he adds to our team, that's for sure," Greene said.
"It'll be great having him back at the footy club."
Aleer returns with a fresh face in the Giants' engine room, with disgruntled star Clayton Oliver the only significant acquisition for the orange guernsey this trade period.
Greene was excited by the proposition of playing alongside the 28-year-old star, who is just three seasons removed from a fourth-place finish in the Brownlow Medal count.
"[Oliver] was obviously a little bit disgruntled at Melbourne last year and has had a few challenges himself, but that's why we want him.
"We want to try and get the best out of him. We'll do everything we can to make sure that happens."
GWS have demonstrated a capability of keeping players with poor off-field track records focused on their footy, notably providing Jake Stringer with an AFL lifeline last year.
It resulted in a supreme bounce back season in 2025 for 'The Package', where he was a key figure in GWS' dominant second half of the season.
