Toby Greene has shed light on the abrupt breakdown of Leek Aleer’s proposed move to St Kilda, revealing that the Greater Western Sydney defender was “a little bit rattled” when the Saints backed out of their deal.
The 24-year-old had sought a trade last month in pursuit of more playing time, only for St Kilda to withdraw late in the process, despite having, as Aleer’s manager Ryan Smith claimed, “been wining and dining him for two years.” The decision caught both the player and teammates off guard.
‘That’s footy as well’
“It certainly came as a surprise, and the Saints probably did him dirty a bit, but that’s footy as well,” Greene told reporters. “They had every right to do that. It’s the way footy is going, with player movement. It helps us — we get him back, and he adds to our team, that’s for sure. It’ll be great having him back at the footy club.”
After the move collapsed, Aleer chose to recommit to the Giants, signing a new two-year deal that keeps him in orange and charcoal until the end of 2027.
The fourth-year defender, who played 13 games this season, now joins Connor Idun, Finn Callaghan, and Aaron Cadman in extending their stays, adding to GWS’ hopes of rebounding from their elimination final exit.