St Kilda's ploy to retain star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has deepened when it was revealed that the club is eyeing a family member and former Essendon player, Tex Wanganeen.
Wanganeen-Milera is weighing up his future for 2026 and beyond, with lucrative deals from the Saints, as well as home state clubs Port Adelaide and Adelaide.
However, according to Channel 9's Tom Morris, the Moorabbin club is considering bringing in Wanganeen, who played five games for the Bombers, which could help secure the signature of the 22-year-old.
"St Kilda is leaving no stone unturned to re-sign at the club. To say they're desperate to keep him is an understatement," Morris told 9News Melbourne.
"What we can bring you tonight is the extraordinary measures the Saints are taking to keep their man in red, white and black.
"I understand St Kilda is keen to sign Wanganeen-Milera's first cousin and close friend, Tex Wanganeen, across the summer in large part to keep Nasiah.
"It's the brainchild of (list bosses) Stephen Silvagni and Gubby Allen. Tex Wanganeen, he can play in his own right, and the Saints have liked him since his draft year.
"Tex spent the first part of this year at Port Melbourne in the VFL, and this is where it gets interesting. Once he was on St Kilda's radar, he applied for a permit to be transferred to their VFL affiliate team, Sandringham, last month.
"The only problem is it came after the June 30 deadline, so he will play the remainder of the season in the VAFA, and if Wanganeen-Milera re-signs, he will be added as a pre-season train-on player (at the Saints) with a view to eventually adding him to the senior list.
"He's got talent, yes, but the bonus is he has a superstar cousin who St Kilda desperately hopes to re-sign, and they hope it'll be that lever that leads to his signature in the next few weeks."
Wanganeen is the son of 1993 Brownlow medallist Gavin and was set to play for St Kilda's VFL-affiliate Sandringham Zebras, but missed the 30 June cut-off, and has remained at Port Melbourne since his delisting from Essendon last year.
St Kilda will now seemingly add him to their training squad over summer, if his superstar cousin signs on long-term.
Wanganeen-Milera's stocks just rose astronomically after his four-goal, 34-disposal performance in the historic comeback against Melbourne last week.
The 22-year-old slotted two goals in the final minute to pull off the 46-point three-quarter-time deficit.
