St Kilda’s Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera had a brief but fun – if difficult – homecoming in Adelaide over the weekend. This visit was serendipitously timed with the team’s bye week in Round 13. The young athlete jumped at the chance to reunite with his childhood friends. He ran on a beach and took time to relax with fellow footballers and friends Jason Horne-Francis & Jase Burgoyne (Port Adelaide).
During their reunion, the trio talked over a meal at Produce Junction before making the short trip to Yochi on The Parade for dessert. Their long-standing friendship, which began when they played in pathways squads during their junior years, was evident as they reminisced and caught up on each other’s lives. After being drafted into the AFL in 2021, the three players’ professional careers only strengthened their bond as they entered the same league together.
The get-together wasn’t intended to be an official recruiting round. Nonetheless, speculation began to leak suggesting Wanganeen-Milera could be heading to Port Adelaide after all. Caroline Wilson added that behind-the-scenes Horne-Francis and Burgoyne have been continuing the hard sell. This development has only raised the mystery — and the stakes — surrounding the friendly dinner.
“They messaged at five o’clock asking me what I was doing for dinner and I said I’ve already got it ready, and then I said yous can come over,” said Horne-Francis regarding the spontaneous get-together.
After dinner the friends had swiped friends on the bus and decided that they wanted to eat dessert at Yochi. The casual atmosphere of the evening took a light-hearted turn when a Yochi employee approached them for a photograph to share on the establishment’s Instagram page.
“One of the Yochi workers came up to us and said, ‘Can we get a photo of you for the Yochi Instagram?’ of me, Jase Burgoyne and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera after Caro had just said we’re doing recruiting,” Horne-Francis recounted.
This otherwise innocent photo could have major ramifications for St Kilda coach Ross Lyon. AFL commentator Mark Ricciuto suggested that Lyon might react strongly upon seeing the image of Wanganeen-Milera with his Port Adelaide counterparts.
“Ross Lyon is going to have a heart attack when he sees that: ‘What’s Nasiah doing? He’s back in Adelaide, he said he was just going to see his parents and he’s out with the bloody Port players!’” Ricciuto humorously commented.
Wanganeen-Milera’s return to Adelaide was primarily to visit family, but his time with Horne-Francis and Burgoyne reflects the strong camaraderie they share.
“We’re three best mates and we always catch up all the time, whenever ‘Nas’ is back in (Adelaide). He’s back in town already,” Horne-Francis emphasized.
