AFL Trades: West Coast list boss Matt Clarke says the Eagles will ‘look at’ Leek Aleer, not Jack Steele

West Coast list boss Matt Clarke says they will “have a look” at Greater Western Sydney defender Leek Aleer but shut down links to former St Kilda captain Jack Steele. The Eagles have been active this trade period as they look to bring in senior players to support their rejuvenating list, with dual Brisbane premiership defender Brandon Starcevich the focal point of their week. They have also made no secret of the want to bolster their key defensive stocks, with Richmond defender Tylar Young also set to join the Eagles before Wednesday’s deadline on a three-year deal. However, Clarke said they were unlikely to pursue Aleer who has been left in football limbo after St Kilda stunned the AFL world on Thursday when they withdrew their interest in the 24-year-old despite having a four-year, multi-million dollar deal on the table for him. “Everybody is probably looking around for key backs in the comp, they’re one position you can’t have enough of given their value,” Clarke told Trade Radio. “We were tracking Leek Aleer like a lot of clubs. We prioritised Tylar Young from Richmond as the key back replacement that we want, and now he’s agreed to come, it’s just a matter of getting a deal over the line with the Tigers. “We will probably prioritise that one, getting that done. We will have a look at Leek and where he sits with our playing group, but he’s probably not a priority for us right now. Getting Tylar on board is.” West Coast had also been linked to a potential trade for Saints skipper Steele, who had been told by the club to look at his options despite having two years left on a deal at Moorabbin. Clarke said the 29-year-old did not fit the profile they looked at under coach Andrew McQualter. “We look at a lot of those types of players throughout the year, but Jack was one that really didn’t come on our radar to be fair,” he said. “He’s a really good player, Jack, and he’s a good leader of that footy club but he probably just didn’t fit in a position type where we’re looking to build and the way Mini is trying to play with what we’ve got existing on our list right now. It hasn’t been one we’ve discussed.” Clarke also all but shut down the speculation that they could draw former Gold Coast skipper David Swallow out of retirement just weeks after he hung up the boots. The West Australian understands Swallow is a chance to move back to WA after playing 249 games in 15 seasons at the Suns, having been drafted out of East Fremantle. “We’ll wait to see where the end of the trade period and list lodgement look like before we look at that,” Clarke said. “We’d love some more senior depth in those roles, we think we’re bringing in a reasonable amount of that now with Brandon and Youngy coming on board and hopefully a younger guy in Dev (Robertson). “A few more conversations to happen from that point of view.”