St Kilda may have secured Jack Silvagni as their latest backline recruit, but their pursuit of Giants defender Leek Aleer hasn’t cooled.
According to The Age, the Saints’ interest in the 22-year-old “did not waver” even after Silvagni chose Moorabbin over Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs in free agency.
Aleer has enjoyed his most consistent season to date with 12 senior appearances, and while the Giants have tabled a two-year extension worth around $400,000 a season, St Kilda are believed to be willing to go twice as long on the contract and nearly double the pay packet.
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Saints’ list build gathers pace
The club has been open about strengthening its defensive stocks, and Aleer remains firmly in their sights.
Reports from foxfooty.com.au earlier this year linked him strongly to the Saints, while the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph suggested the lure of a four-year deal valued at roughly $750,000 a season could be too significant to ignore.
Aleer is not expected to decide until the Giants’ finals campaign concludes, but his potential addition would slot him alongside Silvagni, stalwart Callum Wilkie and promising youngster Alix Tauru in Ross Lyon’s backline.
With further moves tipped, including Tom De Koning as a free agent and premiership Eagle Liam Ryan via trade, the Saints are clearly pushing to reshape their squad into a consistent finals contender. As their list-building accelerates, Aleer looms as a major piece of that puzzle.