When news broke that St Kilda had done the unlikely, in re-signing their silky young star, even the most cynical of footy fans sported a smile.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is in rare form. Since Round 17, the South Australian has averaged almost 33 disposals, over 700 metres gained, a whisker under eight score involvements, and a goal a game.
This is an unprecedented offensive output, particularly for a young player at the mercy of a traditionally dour Ross Lyon game style, and it will likely net the Glenelg product a maiden All-Australian blazer at season's end.
‘Nas' has become a top-five player in the league, a trajectory even the most optimistic St Kilda tragics could have only dreamed about when the gliding ball user was taken with Pick 11 in the 2021 National Draft.
His heroics against Melbourne a month ago will go down in folklore. Orchestrating the single greatest three-quarter-time comeback in V/AFL history at 22 years of age was a special showcase of his character, his footballing acumen, and his vital importance to what is a middling football team and a tortured football club.
This form brought with it eye-watering contract offers from his home state. Channel 9's Tom Morris reported that the ladder-leading Crows' offer was between $1.5 and $1.7 million over a four-year term, while Port Adelaide came to the table with an unprecedented $2.5 million per season over 12 years, which equated to $30 million in total.
So then, Wanganeen-Milera's decision to ply his trade at Moorabbin for the next two seasons, becoming the AFL's first $2 million man in the process, is a monumental one.
Rejecting the lure of creature comforts, family ties, presumed premiership success, and improved facilities in the "City of Churches" is a paradigm-altering vote of confidence in what St Kilda is building, and football boss David Misson said as much.
"Nasiah's commitment to the club is a strong vote of confidence in not only the culture we've built, but in the future we're creating both on and off the field," said Mission.
Whether or not he stays at RSEA Park beyond the life of this two-year extension remains to be seen, with the same suitors expected to again come hard for his services at the end of the 2027 season.
"I've never felt any more love like that in my career."
Nasiah's message to our St Kilda faithful ❤️ pic.twitter.com/j6HXOv7DV2
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) August 18, 2025
For all of the cynicism regarding the relatively short nature of this deal, this proverbial ‘kicking of the can down the road' buys needle movers at St Kilda, both on and off the field, time.
Call it naive romanticism, but if the wealth of young talent the Saints have acquired in recent times - Mattaes Philippou, Tobie Travaglia, Alix Tauru, Hugh Boxshall and the like - develop as expected, and the Saints surge up the ladder, Wanganeen-Milera's next contract decision becomes more complicated again.
For what it's worth, his language after the announcement is sure to instil confidence in the Saints' membership base.
"From the moment I arrived at St Kilda, the staff and my teammates have supported me in every way, not just to be a better footballer, but a better person," he said.
"I know how special it is to pull on the red, white and black. Every time I run out, I'm representing my family, my culture and this club. That means everything to me.
"I want to help create something long-lasting here. We've got a tight group and a clear direction, and I'm proud to be part of building that future."
The potential implications of Wanganeen-Milera's signature are varied and far-reaching.
With fans and players alike enamoured with his on-field brilliance, the promise of sharing the field with Wanganeen-Milera will undoubtedly assist the Saints in their endeavours to re-sign or retain other members of their side.
On the Saints' list, those names feature Jack Steele and Marcus Windhager. As trade and free agent targets, it starts with Carlton ruckman Tom de Koning, and extends to the likes of GWS' Leek Aleer, and West Coast premiership forward, Liam Ryan.
If the reported remuneration being offered to de Koning, of $1.7 million per season, is correct, the Saints could have the two highest-paid players in the AFL running around in the same midfield.
Conventional wisdom would suggest it's difficult to retain depth with so much of a salary cap tied up in two talents, but this aggressive list management manoeuvring is a signal of intent, and promises something St Kilda haven't enjoyed for the better part of 15 years - relevance.
One of the code's oldest teams, rather infamously, has just the one premiership cup in its trophy cabinet, a relic of their 1966 triumph. Twenty-seven wooden spoons populate their history, which is comfortably league-worst.
In more recent history, the Saints' last September victory was an elimination final in 2020. Their last finals appearance before that was in 2011, illustrating just how starved for success this club has become, not just recently, but across their fabled history.
Failed pursuits of many talents in recent times, among other factors, led the Herald Sun's Jon Ralph to rank the Saints the third-least attractive destination club in the AFL.
Wanganeen-Milera's commitment goes a long way to changing narratives around the club, and a further commitment beyond 2027 could catapult the Saints to uncharted territory and closer to that elusive second flag.
