Aleer requests trade to Saints; Hawks forward out of semi; AFL hints at imminent rule changes

There was no guarantee Aleer’s opportunities would be greater at GWS next year, given the presence of Sam Taylor, Harry Himmelberg, Jack Buckley and Connor Idun.

However, Aleer will also face competition at St Kilda, given Jack Silvagni is joining a list that already includes Callum Wilkie, Dougal Howard, Anthony Caminiti and Alix Tauru – but the outgoing Giant will fancy his chances of being a regular far more.

His management sought assurances from the Saints that their interest in Silvagni would not impact Aleer, who averaged almost two intercept marks a game this year. St Kilda were keen to trade for Aleer in last year’s trade period, but he chose to fulfil the final year of his contract.

St Kilda are also keen to lure contracted midfielder-forward Sam Flanders from Gold Coast to bolster their on-ball rotation, while Hawk Cam Mackenzie – a Saints next-generation academy graduate – has also been linked to the club.

The aggressive recruiting drive is reminiscent of St Kilda’s 2019 trade period, where they brought in Bradley Hill, Dan Butler, Zak Jones, Paddy Ryder and Howard.

GWS winger Jacob Wehr also told the Giants he would explore his free agency options, and is expected to depart, with a move to Port Adelaide the likeliest scenario. Wehr became a lifetime free agent when he was delisted at the end of the 2021 season.

Hawk Dear officially out of semi-final

Jon Pierik

Hawthorn forward Calsher Dear will miss Friday night’s semi-final against Adelaide with a hamstring injury but the Hawks haven’t put a line through his season.

The 20-year-old was subbed off in the third term of Saturday’s elimination final win and won’t make the trip to face the minor premiership. Fellow tall forward Mitch Lewis, who was dropped ahead of the club’s elimination final, shapes as a likely replacement.

“Not the news we were hoping for, but he’s had an incident,” high performance manager Peter Burge said on the club’s website.

“He was running at speed and just noticed a tightening sensation. But we subbed him out tactically during the third quarter [against GWS on Saturday], and we’ve since had a scan today, which has shown he’s got a low to moderate-grade hamstring injury.

“He’s certainly not ruled out of the season, obviously depending on how deep we can continue to go, but he won’t be playing this week, and we’ll progress back into running this week.

“It’s worth noting too that Calsher’s been on a heavily modified program this year, given the stress fracture he started with at the start of the year.”

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Lewis played the final six games of the home-and-away season, but was axed for Saturday’s clash because the Hawks were conscious of the Giants’ fleet of rebounding defenders. This left Mabior Chol, Jack Gunston and Dear as the three primary tall forwards.

That powerful utility Josh Weddle returned for the clash meant the Hawks did not lose a great deal of size.

Star midfielder Jai Newcombe said Dear had taken part in team meetings on Monday, but acknowledged Lewis could now be in the selection frame.

“We have a lot of guys at Box Hill that are playing really well and have been in good form and pushing us all to be playing good footy at this time of the year,” Newcombe said.

“We are very fortunate to still have both sides playing in the finals which is great for us all.”

Lewis responded with four goals in the Hawks’ VFL win over Brisbane at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday.

What could impact a potential Lewis return is that Weddle was also used up forward against the Giants, particularly in the final term, and finished as the No.1 target for the afternoon inside 50.

Retiring club great Luke Breust, who was also dropped for the Giants’ clash, is another selection option.

Coach Sam Mitchell said Saturday’s win – the Hawks’ first at Engie Stadium – had been important for his team’s “identity”, which Newcombe alluded to.

“It’s definitely character building for us … our record [at the stadium] was 0-8 prior to the weekend, so that was pleasing. We have been in those close games interstate this year. It’s nice to have the feeling of a win after being in those positions,” Newcombe said.

The Hawks and Crows split their results this season. The Hawks won by three points in Launceston in round 14, but lost by 14 in round 21 in Adelaide, having led by eight points at the final break. In that last game, the Hawks fielded Chol, Gunston, Dear and Lewis, with Dear beginning as the substitute.

The Hawks booted the opening five goals that night, while Izak Rankine, with three goals and three goal assists, was instrumental in the Crows’ response.

However, Rankine will again miss this week because of suspension, the Crows’ desperately missing his run and creativity in their qualifying final loss to the Magpies.

Newcombe delivered a performance for the ages against the Giants, finishing with 32 disposals, including a goal and 12 contested possessions.

He was the highest rated player on the ground, as he has been in all three of his finals.

Taken in the 2021 mid-season draft, Newcombe has become somewhat of a finals specialist.

“We want to be in this spot every year. The more chances I get, and we get, to perform in finals, the better we are all going to be,” Newcombe said.

AFL expected to introduce a last touch out-of-bounds rule

Jon Pierik

The AFL is pushing to introduce a last disposal out-of-bounds rule, while the substitute player is likely to be dumped in favour of a five-man bench, as part of a shake-up led by new football operations boss Greg Swann.

Under Swann’s plan for season 2026, a free kick will be paid against players who handball or kick the ball over the boundary line between the arcs.

Swann has also suggested the contentious substitute player rule will be abolished, with teams having a regular five-man bench, with rotations capped at 75 per team.

The former long-time club chief executive replied “probably - yep” when asked if the grand final would be the last time each team would have a substitute.

Swann said the 6-6-6 formation warning would remain.

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