St Kilda has been labelled a “disgrace” after telling Leek Aleer it cannot complete a trade to get him to the club, in a development that has left the key defender “livid”.
The Saints had promised Aleer for two years that he would be welcomed to the club in this year’s trade period, only to tell him on Thursday that they didn’t have the draft picks to do so.
The off-contract Aleer will now either find another club over the remaining six days of the trade period or re-sign with the Giants, who want him to resume life at GWS after his post-season European holiday.
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Leek Aleer of the Giants. Getty
Leer’s manager roasted the Saints in a statement provided to 9News.
“This came as an absolute shock,” Dylan Smith said.
“They’ve been whining [sic] and dining for him for two years. They loved where he was at and finally turned his head.
“They got him in, had the meetings and convinced him that the Saints was where he should be. It was a good fit. It was a career move and a four-year [contract] playing alongside Jack Silvagni and others.
“Today they backflipped because they don’t have the picks for him. It’s disappointing. They should be prepared for this after two years. They couldn’t get a future second-rounder for him.
“Leek is not happy and to be honest, livid with the situation. Clubs have rung me and said ‘it’s a disgrace, what have they done?’ Nobody from the Saints has spoken to him.”
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