All-Australian debutant Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has revealed he had the football media fooled about his decision to re-sign at St Kilda.
The 22-year-old, who was named as a half-back in the 2025 All-Australian team, signed a new two-year, $2 million-a-year contract at the Saints on August 18, rejecting lucrative contracts to return back home to South Australia with Adelaide and Port Adelaide.
Media reports leading up to confirmation of Wanganeen-Milera's signature varied widely, with a Fox Footy report the day before suggesting he was leaning toward joining Adelaide.
However, during an interview to celebrate his All-Australian selection, Wanganeen-Milera revealed he made the call to stay at the Saints a month ago.
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Putting his decision to remain at St Kilda being made around when his two-goal match-winning heroics sealed the biggest comeback win of all-time against Melbourne.
"About a month ago, Mum and Dad came down to Melbourne," Wanganeen-Milera said.
"I sat down with them and sort of just said I’m going to stay. I felt like it wasn’t going to sit well with me if I left. Felt like I had unfinished business at the Saints."
Wanganeen-Milera then recalled the day he told the Saints he was going to re-sign at the club.
He revealed there was tears from St Kilda coach Ross Lyon.
“I think it was last week I ended up messaging Ross about an hour before we went in and I said ‘oh can I catch up with you for five minutes?’. And he said, yeah sure,” he said.
“I said I’ll be a the club at 12.30.
“He was there. I’m pretty close with Brad Hill and I said (to Hill) do you want to come in – I’m going to tell Ross?
“I ended up telling Hilly a couple of days before.
“(Assistant coach) Corey Enright, who I’ve got a good connection with, I sort of brought them into the room. I said, ‘oh yeah I’m going to stay’.
“I think Ross had a few tears in his eye.
“I gave him a hug … I want to tell the lads before it’s out in the media. Next thing you know, I think 10 minutes later Cal Twomey reported it.
“We rushed all the boys in – Hilly’s daughter announced it which was pretty cute.”