‘So significant’: Domino effect of Dusty-like $4m call explained on ‘landmark’ Saints day

It was dubbed by club great Leigh Montagna last month as the biggest St Kilda contract call since Tony Lockett’s 31 years ago.

This time, though, the Saints have retained their main man at an integral part of their journey.

In an immense showing of loyalty, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera – the best and most in-demand uncontracted player in the competition this year – has re-committed to St Kilda, signing a two-year contract extension.

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9 News chief football journalist Tom Morris reported the St Kilda playing group “erupted at Moorabbin” after being told of the Saints superstar’s decision.

Traditionally, the longer AFL players leave their footy future calls in their contract years, the more likely they are to leave. And Wanganeen-Milera undoubtedly pushed the deadline, with just one game remaining in St Kilda’s 2025 campaign before it fully enters trade mode.

But like Dustin Martin eight years before him, Wanganeen-Milera has stayed put.

During the 2017 pre-finals bye, Martin – then the hottest player in the game, amplified by his Brownlow Medal and Norm Smith Medal double a few weeks later – snubbed a massive offer from North Melbourne to re-sign at Richmond.

Similarly, rival clubs have circled Wanganeen-Milera all year – particularly the two clubs in the 22-year-old’s native state. Morris reported Adelaide’s offer was between $1.5 million to $1.7 million over a four-year span – with a preparedness to hand out a longer deal – while Port Adelaide offered a gargantuan $2.5 million per season over 12 years — an eye-watering $30 million in total.

But both the Crows and Power were told they’d missed out on Wanganeen-Milera, who this year has surged into top-five-AFL-player territory off the back of a bonkers purple form patch.

Speaking to foxfooty.com.au, Western Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson suggested it was a “landmark moment” for the Saints, comparing Wanganeen-Milera’s recommitment to when Chris Grant re-signed at the Dogs and turned down ample interest from rival clubs.

“If he (Grant) had decided to leave, your best player goes and leaves a massive hole in so many areas, not only just the playing side of things,” Johnson told foxfooty.com.au.

“That’s why it’s so significant and the lift that gives all his teammates is massive.

“I think it’s perfect for the next two years to continue that strong development in the game under Ross (Lyon), who ‘ll be keen to use that signing to, one, retain other teammates – which is really important – but, two, attract other players to the club knowing that you’re going to have possibly the best player in the comp on your list.”

While he turned down big dollars from Adelaide and Port Adelaide, Wanganeen-Milera will still be well remunerated by the Saints.

In fact, it’s understood Wanganeen-Milera will next year become the AFL’s first $2 million player, with the St Kilda deal worth a total of $4 million overall.

Johnson said some pundits and fans would claim other more proven players with more accolades and lengthier CVs would be more worthy of the ‘$2 million man’ tag. But the Bulldogs games record-holder stressed it was “the nature of the industry”.

“That’s just the reality of what clubs can afford to pay their best players,” he said.

“Now some at the bottom-end might get a little bit less because of it, but that’s OK. I’m big on the superstars within your club should be paid quite handsomely to represent and execute on gameday – because nine out of 10 games he’s performing at an unbelievable level and there’s only one out of every 10 where he gets tagged out of it or something happens.

“The reality is you’re getting an exceptional player week-in, week-out.”

The domino effect could be significant for cashed-up St Kilda, which still looms as a central player in this year’s off-season despite Wanganeen-Milera’s loyalty.

St Kilda has long been linked to Carlton free agent Tom De Koning and is also seen as the front-runner to land first-round Giants defender Leek Aleer in October.

At the same time, the likes of skipper Jack Steele, vice-captain Callum Wilkie, ruck Rowan Marshall and midfielder Marcus Windhager have all been linked to possible exits for various reasons, although both Steele and Wilkie have publicly indicated they have no desire to move on.

The Saints’ reported offers for the two rival-club players – De Koning has a lucrative deal worth around $1.7 million per season on the table in front of him – has allegedly left a few current Saints perplexed.

But Monday’s signing is a potential gamechanger. For while the Saints’ past inability to land a rival big fish has been well-documented – think Finn Callaghan, Jordan De Goey, Zach Merrett, Jacob Weitering, Miles Bergman and Andrew Brayshaw – retaining a player of Wanganeen-Milera’s talent and standing in the game is significant.

Johnson said it was critical the Saints now place just as much – if not more – focus on retaining talent.

“Obviously there’s been rumblings around some players potentially wanting to depart and those sorts of things because of what players were potentially coming in on what dollars. Internally is what you’ve got to worry about first,” Johnson said.

“If you’ve got the right mix and you’re being rewarded for the effort you’re putting in internally for a number of years, that’s the most important start. The rest will then unfold around that.

“But you can’t have unrest among the locker room for working your backside off and not being rewarded for it.”