Leek Aleer is one of the most inspiring people in modern Australian football. His journey from a refugee camp to the AFL shows how strong, resilient, and family-oriented he is. His journey from a Kenyan childhood to the top of the GWS Giants and the center of AFL trade news is a story of bravery and determination that still inspires teammates and fans.
Childhood and Moving to Australia
Leek Aleer was born in 2001 in Kenya to South Sudanese parents who were fleeing civil war. He spent his early childhood in uncertainty before moving with his family to Adelaide when he was five. Tabitha, Leek’s mother, became the family’s rock. She raised him and his five younger sisters: Agot, Athok, Lueth, Yar, and Ajah.
Aleer didn’t know much about Australian Rules Football when he first moved to Adelaide. He once said, “The ball that was shaped like an oval looked strange.” But interest quickly turned into passion, and local coaches saw how naturally athletic he was. He started out with Central District Football Club and worked his way up through the Under-16s, Under-18s, and Reserves. In May 2021, he made his senior SANFL debut, just six months before being drafted to the AFL.
Overcoming Injury and Earning a Reputation
It wasn’t easy for Aleer. In 2019, he broke his fibula and dislocated his ankle. These injuries kept him out of action for months and made recruiters wary. He got his strength back and came back even stronger through hard work and intense rehabilitation.
At the AFL Draft Combine, people quickly noticed his 107-centimetre vertical leap and lightning-fast closing speed. Scouts said he was one of the most athletic defenders in years, able to jump, intercept, and read the ball in flight like few others.
By the middle of 2021, he was winning a lot of SANFL games and was one of Central District’s most reliable intercept defenders. It was amazing how quickly he went from playing community football to being in the national draft pool.
A Historic Choice in the AFL Draft
The Greater Western Sydney Giants picked Leek Aleer with Pick No. 15 in the 2021 AFL National Draft. His pick, along with Mac Andrew’s (Pick No. 5 to Gold Coast), was the first time two players with South Sudanese roots were picked in the first round of the draft.
The Giants chose him because they believed in both his athletic ability and his character off the field. Aleer looked up to Aliir Aliir, the Port Adelaide All-Australian defender, and was close friends with Michael and Martin Frederick, who were also South Sudanese players.
He quickly became a symbol of hope for young African-Australian athletes, showing that hard work and opportunity could help them get over almost any obstacle.
Leek Aleer’s AFL Debut-An Emotional Milestone
The Giants said on July 30, 2022 (Round 20), that Leek Aleer would make his debut in the Sydney Derby against the Swans. That moment will stay with me forever.
The club secretly flew his mother and sisters in from Adelaide and asked them to come to a team meeting to surprise him. Aleer was speechless when they came into the room with his guernsey. He remembered, “My mom calls me every night, but she didn’t last night.” “I didn’t connect the dots. I couldn’t say anything when they came in.
The 196-centimeter defender was suddenly getting ready to face off against Lance “Buddy” Franklin. He laughed and said, “If I get a chance on Buddy, I’ll put on my boots and go hard.”
Aleer said his first fight felt like a dream come true because veteran Phil Davis was there to help him with his decisions and positioning. He liked Sydney life because of its close-knit club culture: “quiet but close, everyone relies on each other.”
That weekend was also important because Mac Andrew (Gold Coast) and Leek Aleer both made their debuts within 24 hours of each other. Port star Aliir Aliir said he felt “like a proud big brother” and called the weekend a turning point for South Sudanese players in the AFL.
Pride in the Community and Cultural Representation
Aleer’s first game meant more than just football for the South Sudanese community in Australia. Years ago, the media unfairly portrayed African-Australian youth in stereotypes. They had heroes now.
Aliir Aliir thought, “A few years ago, everyone said we were bad.” But a lot of us are doing good. Aleer showed his pride by quietly accepting his role as an ambassador, encouraging young players to play the sport without fear of being judged.
Growth at the Giants (2023–2024)
For the next two seasons, coach Mark McVeigh helped Aleer become more consistent and disciplined. He had a hard time getting playing time because he was up against Sam Taylor, Connor Idun, Jack Buckley, and Harry Himmelberg. He had played 12 AFL games by the end of 2023 and was praised for his calmness and timing in the air.
He shone in the VFL in 2024, using the season to improve his skills. His amazing marking and reading of the game got him a lot of praise, and rival teams, especially St Kilda and Brisbane, who had been watching him all year, started to pay attention.
His teammates called him “the quiet competitor” because he was honest and led by example.
Form for the 2025 Pre-Season and VFL
GWS moved quickly to keep him before 2025, offering him a two-year contract extension through the end of 2027 after talks started in April. The Giants wanted a quick signature, but Aleer decided to look into his options because he knew other teams were interested.
In March, he played in the VFL Round 2 game at Blacktown International Sportspark, where he lined up at full-back with Wade Derksen and Harper Montgomery under the captaincy of Ryan Hebron. Coaches praised his “leadership on the field” and his ability to dominate in the air.
People said he was “lighting up the VFL,” making highlight-reel interceptions and controlling the defense, which showed he was ready to come back to the AFL full-time.
Growing Interest in Trade
St Kilda stepped up its efforts by the middle of the season. The Saints were doing a big rebuild with Ross Lyon in charge. They had already signed Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni, and now they were going after Leek Aleer, Sam Flanders, and Liam Ryan.
Club insiders said that the Saints were ready to give Aleer a four-year deal and a big role on defense. Their $2 million-per-season deal for Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, which broke records, showed how much money they had and how much they wanted to win.
Graeme Allan, the club’s head of talent, said in public that the club had “plenty of money to splash.” He also pointed out that even after the signings, the Saints were still below the AFL’s salary-cap floor in 2024.
Brisbane, on the other hand, stayed interested because they had been following Aleer for more than a year. The Western Bulldogs, Carlton, Geelong, and Collingwood all kept an eye on things quietly.
Request for Trade and a Sudden Change of Heart
Leek Aleer officially asked to be traded to St Kilda after GWS lost in the finals in September 2025. There was a lot of hope and talks moved quickly. But in early October, just a few days before the deadline, St. Kilda suddenly pulled out.
Reports called the move a backflip and said it left Aleer “hard done by.” He had turned down a Giants extension because he thought he would be moving, but the deal fell through.
Inside Moorabbin, the choice was based on strategy, not money. St. Kilda had already traded for Liam Ryan (who they got from West Coast for a second-round pick in 2026) and wanted to keep their draft picks for the future.
GWS stood by Aleer despite the setback, saying that he could be a long-term anchor for the backline. The Giants had just signed Jayden Laverde to add depth, but they were still open to re-signing Aleer after 2027.
Changes to the GWS List at the Same Time
At the same time, Jacob Wehr, another Giant, left to join Port Adelaide as a free agent who had been dropped from the team. This shows that the roster was changing a lot at the time. It showed how unsure the Giants’ team was and how important it was to keep young defenders like Aleer.
Aleer’s Response After the Backflip
Instead of being sad, Aleer went back to GWS pre-season training right away, determined to show himself again. His teammates called him “professional and humble,” and fans flooded social media with messages praising his maturity during the trade chaos.
He played in 13 AFL games in 2025, bringing his career total to 25 games. That’s a great accomplishment for a player who is only 23 years old. He was one of the Giants’ best defensive options going into 2026 because he was calm, had long arms, and could intercept passes.
READ MORE : Leek Aleer’s Story-From Humble Thanks to AFL Fame
Community Growth and Leadership Outside of Sports
Leek Aleer’s rise is similar to the overall growth of South Sudanese players in Australian football. In 2025, Reuben William, a former defender for Brisbane who is also from South Sudan, was named Western Jets Talent Lead. This showed how much the South Sudanese community was growing in the AFL system.
Aleer goes to youth programs in western Sydney a lot to encourage young immigrants to play sports. He is now a mentor to younger African-Australian players, just like Aliir Aliir and Phil Davis were to him.
Looking Ahead-The 2026 Season and Beyond
The 2026 season is going to be a very important one. Aleer is ready to make a name for himself in the AFL now that he has more confidence and the Giants are getting older.
People inside the club say that GWS is still open to giving him more time, seeing him as a possible successor to Phil Davis as leader. Meanwhile, rival clubs are expected to circle again when trade season returns — especially if his upward trajectory continues.
Leek Aleer’s Enduring Legacy
From a Kenyan refugee camp to AFL stadiums, Leek Aleer’s story is a triumph of resilience. His journey shows how family, faith, and relentless effort can transform adversity into opportunity.
In just a few years, he evolved from an unknown SANFL teenager to one of the AFL’s most respected young defenders. His debut inspired a community; his setbacks revealed his strength; his professionalism during trade turmoil proved his character.
As he prepares for the next stage of his career, one thing is certain — Leek Aleer has already changed Australian football. He is not merely a player chasing marks and tackles; he’s a symbol of what it means to dream big and stay grounded.
READ MORE : Inside the World of Pat Cummins — From Ashes Glory to Fatherhood and Beyond
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