AFL Now: Latest injury updates, MRO latest, teams news and round 8 preview on Friday

Matteas Phillipou is poised to re-sign with St Kilda in a huge show of faith in Ross Lyon’s rebuild. Find out and more and get Friday’s biggest footy news in AFL Now.

St Kilda’s young star midfielder Mattaes Phillipou will commit his long-term future to the club in part because of its decision to lock away coach Ross Lyon until 2027.

Lyon and Phillipou have a close relationship, with the St Kilda senior coach saying recently his star mid was close to an extension past 2026.

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Despite reports, that deal is only likely to come at the end of the season as Phillipou tries to reestablish himself after a stress fracture in his femur that is usually only seen in marathon runners.

He had put together a massive pre-season but was then delayed by the stress reaction, which required a lengthy period of rest.

But he is keen to lock himself away on a long-term deal at the club as St Kilda builds towards a future with regular finals participation.

He was buoyed by the club’s decision to extend Lyon’s tenure until 2027 given he wants to play under the coach who helped him transition into the midfield.

Matteas Phillipou is set to ink a long-term deal to stay at St Kilda.

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In four late-season games in 2023 he exploded as a midfield prospect after time in the VFL learning the craft.

St Kilda is desperate to re-contract Nasiah Wanganeen Milera, with his contract decision shaping as one of the biggest fork-in-the-road moments for the club in some time.

The club would be happy to pay him well over $1 million for a four-year deal to free agency or even longer to secure his financial future.

He lives with good mates Mitch Owens and Marcus Windhager and is not especially homesick but like all players at times feels the pull of playing in his home state.

Clubs including Adelaide – which has this year’s first-rounder and next year’s first-round pick – are aggressively chasing the local boy.

He is not yet ready to make a decision on his future but is considering both options as the Saints also try to make him into a midfielder capable of centre square action.

He is keen to play in that role and last week against Brisbane won a career-high four centre-square clearances.

Originally published as AFL Now: Latest injury updates, MRO latest, teams news and round 8 preview on Friday