‘A disaster’: Big Saints fear in $1.4m move; twist over Dons star as trigger revealed — Whispers

St Kilda has made its best play to Nasiah-Wagnaeen Milera ... but there’s doubts around his future at Moorabbin.

Plus another Saints young gun’s frustrations have been revealed, and the latest on the ‘ruck merry-go-round’.

Get the latest player movement news and updates in AFL Trade Whispers!

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SAINTS TABLE HISTORIC NAS OFFER... BUT STAR STILL UNDECIDED

St Kilda thinks a two-year, $1.4 million-a-season offer to Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, which is the most the Saints have ever offered one of their players in club history, is their “best chance” of retaining the out-of-contract star.

Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson on Channel 7 reported the Saints’ lucrative bid to lock away the 22-year old until at least the end of 2027 amid interest from both clubs in his home state of South Australia.

However Wangaeen-Milera reportedly remains undecided on his future in what Wilson suggested was of “great concern” to St Kilda with just five weeks remaining in the home and away season as the silky left-footer’s manager prepares to meet with him in Melbourne this week.

"I find it Bland" - Mike's observations | 01:05

“St Kilda has offered Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera more than they have offered any other player at that football club in its history. They seem to think a two-year deal is the best chance of keeping him. They’ve offered him $1.4 million a year over two years,” Wilson revealed on Agenda Setters.

“The complication is his manager, Ben Williams, is telling St Kilda that Nasiah has genuinely not made up his mind. Whereas about three weeks ago the view was he had made up his mind and it was pretty much a fait accompli he would sign on for two years.

“Ben Williams comes to Melbourne on Wednesday, there’s a manager’s conference of some sort. He’s told the club he will be meeting with his player on that day and maybe more will be revealed by Thursday.

“This is just fascinating to me and a great concern to St Kilda that they still don’t know ... it would be a PR disaster (if Wanganeen-Milera left). Particularly at a footy club that has been taking pot shots at other clubs and their advantages.

“They lost a player last year they didn’t think they’d lose in Battle. If they lost another one and an even more important one, at a time they’re complaining about father-sons and academies and all the advantages they don’t have, it would terrible.”

Scott: "The games too long, full stop" | 05:32

If Wangaan-Milera was to pursue a move to SA, pulling off a trade could be challenging given Adelaide’s first pick in the 2025 draft is currently just the No. 16 selection after the club has shot up the ladder, while Port doesn’t have a first rounder at all.

Meanwhile Wilson noted St Kilda’s lucrative $1.7 million-a-season bid for Carlton free agent Tom De Koning has “complicated matters” with Wanganeen-Milera, according to St Kilda.

“They wonder whether the manager is maybe trading in on the De Koning offer to get a better a better deal for his player,” she reported.

“My understanding a few weeks ago was money wasn’t really the issue, because everyone is prepared to pay top dollar for Nasiah.”

SAINTS YOUNG GUN’S ‘LEVEL OF DISHARMONY’

St Kilda young gun Darcy Wilson is reportedly “frustrated” after somewhat falling out of favour at Moorabbin this year, reports AFL journalist Damian Barrett.

The second-year player, who was drafted with the No. 18 pick in 2023 and is contracted until the end of 2026, has been dropped to the VFL on two occasions this season and twice been subbed out of games.

Meanwhile a suggestion from St Kilda coach Ross Lyon that Wilson requested to play VFL reportedly drew a “mixed” response from the 19-year old.

May debate - "You needed to stop?" | 03:31

“There is a level of disharmony in certain aspects of his arrangements at St Kilda,” Barrett said of Wilson on Nine’s Footy Classified.

“He’s contracted for 2026 — he’s that first batch of draftees who were required to sign three-year deals — but there’s no movement beyond that particular period.

“The narrative that Ross Lyon made public about Darcy coming to him, wanting to play VFL – fair to say that was mixed received by Darcy Wilson and others around him.

“Because he didn’t necessarily ask word to word to play in the VFL, there’s a frustration attached there.

“It happens to a second-year player, and Ross is entitled to make whatever decision he feels he needs to make at selection. But Darcy Wilson is frustrated.”

LATEST ON ‘RUCK MERRY-GO-ROUND’

Essendon’s offer to Sam Draper includes a trigger for a fifth year that would match the length of Brisbane’s deal, while Adelaide has ramped up its bid to retain Reilly O’Brien.

That’s according to AFL journalist Callum Twomey, who provided the latest on the “ruck merry-go-round” as “a lot hinges on what Draper does” amid interest from both the Lions and Crows in the Bombers free agent.

"Don't tell me!" Gaz's 'dissent' blow up | 01:46

“My understanding is Brisbane has a five-year offer for him as well as a free agent. Also can say tonight the Bombers have a four-year deal that does have a trigger for a fifth season,” Twomey revealed on Nine’s Footy Classified.

“So if he gets out there on the park more than he has over the past couple of years, my understanding is it does have a trigger for a fifth year to match that longer-term offer at the Brisbane Lions.”

Meanwhile the Crows have added a third year to their offer to O’Brien in hopes of keeping the 29-year old, who’s played an important role in the club’s top four surge.

“The Crows ruckman has been really good this year. He’s been waiting to see what happens with Sam Draper as well,” Twomey said.

“Adelaide has upped its offer from two years to three years to keep him at their football club. That’s a sign that they’re clearly keen to keep their veteran ruck.”

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