In a thrilling combination of flare and ferocity, 22-year-old Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera proved he’s a player in demand. His place as a St Kilda legend was cemented during the dramatic last round clash with Melbourne at the MCG. The young star put on a show, racking up 32 disposals and two important third-quarter goals. His efforts pushed St Kilda to achieve the biggest three quarter time comeback in VFL/AFL history, reeling in a massive 46-point deficit.
Wanganeen-Milera’s game was highlighted by two key plays in the closing seconds of the match. With St Kilda down by six points, he made a darting run into the forward 50 as teammate Rowan Marshall got a disposal. He then took a spectacular mark, securing the final possession of the match, before confidently kicking the last two goals. This extended sequence produced an incredible highlight-reel win for the Saints. It engraved Wanganeen-Milera’s name into the SAAFL & SANFL record books.
The game played out in cinematic fashion as St Kilda faced a sizeable deficit against Melbourne’s early-commanding lead. Wanganeen-Milera’s late-game heroics turned the tide. His performance snapped the Saints’ spellbinding six-game losing streak. In the process, they shined a spotlight on one of the most intimidating, jaw-dropping individual performances of the season.
“Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera! What a mark! Name your price!” – Alister Nicholson
For all of Wanganeen-Milera’s extraordinary abilities, his worth to St Kilda has never been more evident. The team’s desperation to retain him is growing by the day. Clubs from Adelaide are apparently already circling, keen to pick up the out-of-favor electric forward. With his future beyond this year still up in the air, Wanganeen-Milera has an important decision ahead of him as he weighs his next move.
Beyond the cheers echoing through the building as the final siren went, the excitement on the ground was electrifying. Central umpire calls Last second play Central umpire calls Tension was high as the central umpire had to remind players to line up correctly for the final down.
“Wait, wait! You’ve got to have four in the middle, we’ve got to wait, we’ve got to set it up,” – central umpire
Wanganeen-Milera didn’t shy away from the confusion. He was the leader, he was the spark, he went out and led his team from a big, huge deficit. His performance against Melbourne in the first-round finals has been projected as one of the greatest individual efforts in recent memory. That’s not just from your casual football fan, that’s from the experts too.
Wanganeen-Milera’s poise under pressure makes him a crucial player for St Kilda going forward. Now, with every awesome performance, he further cements his own legacy in the club. If he continues along his current trajectory, it’s hard to argue that he won’t be one of the most-difficult-to-find talents in the league.
