St Kilda Saints long-term contract for Leek Aleer, Adelaide Crows chasing Sam Draper, Essendon Bombers #adessonews

St Kilda and Adelaide are said to be plotting respective big-time moves a year in advance, chasing key-position pillars to aid their fights to return to finals contention.

The Saints have reportedly made a head-turning play for a developing GWS defender, while the Crows are making no secret of their pursuit of a fan-favourite Bomber.

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SAINTS’ SPLASH PLAY FOR GIANT

Emerging GWS defender Leek Aleer is firmly in the sights of St Kilda, but the youngster has remained faithful to the Giants despite reportedly recently meeting with Saints officials.

According to Nine’s Tom Morris, St Kilda offered Aleer a six-year deal on a figure in the range of $800,000 per season.

The 194-centimetre stopper has played just 12 senior games across three years after being the No. 15 draft pick in 2021, but he played a career-best eight matches this season.

And while the 23-year-old rejected the Saints’ overtures this year after careful consideration, they are expected to come again in 2025 when the Central District product comes out of contract.

“I can’t see him moving in this trade period, but the Saints have had a crack,” Morris told AFL Trade Radio on Wednesday.

“I like the way the Saints are doing this, (they) have said ‘we’re prepared to offer a six-year deal on good money’ — on a lot more than he’s getting now — and he considered this.

“He actually caught up with the Saints a few weeks ago to talk about whether it’s a viable option for him to be traded there. In the end, he’s decided to stay loyal.”

However, Morris reiterated this was a trade storyline to revisit this time next year.

“This is very much a watch for this time in 12 months,” he continued.

“St Kilda among other clubs (will be wondering) how can they pry Leek Aleer out of the Giants, and if they do, what’s he worth? Because I actually think that his price will skyrocket next year.

“The Saints saying to him ‘we are prepared to offer you six years at $800,000-ish’ — that’s his price — that’s a $4.8 million deal that they’ve said ‘we’re prepared to offer you’.

“Him saying ‘no’ to that, for now, just tells me that he wants to commit to the Giants first and then maybe his price goes up next year.”

Aleer’s most impressive performance of this year came in GWS’ Round 11 win over Geelong when he recorded 15 disposals and a season-high seven marks — including a screamer of a game-saving grab late in the piece.

CROWS HUNTING BIG BOMBER

Among the future-planners are the Adelaide Crows, who are evidently making it a priority to bolster their ruck stocks.

The Crows will pursue Essendon ruckman Sam Draper when he is slated to come out of contract next season, says AFL Media journalist Cal Twomey.

Reilly O’Brien, 30, and Kieran Strachan, 28, make up the brunt of Adelaide’s rucking strength, and after attempting to lure Gold Coast tall Ned Moyle during the year, the Crows have seemingly shifted their focus to a Bombers fan-favourite and South Australian native.

“Adelaide will come hard for Sam Draper (next year), I’ve got absolutely no doubt about that,” Twomey told AFL Trade Radio on Tuesday.

“Maybe they have already started those intimations as well. I think that the Bombers will be keen to re-sign him, and he’s also got a pretty steady life in Melbourne and hasn’t previously looked to go back to South Australia.

“He’s been very happy at the Bombers, but I do think the Crows will be well and truly in his ear about getting him to the footy club as a South Australian, but also with their ruck stocks.

“We know that Reilly O’Brien has come into the back end of his career, and they also had a crack at Ned Moyle earlier in the year, so that (ruck talent) is clearly something that I think they’ll be targeting.”

The 26-year-old Draper will be a restricted free agent next year.