Power v Crows: The off-field Showdown for Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera

The action and rivalry between the Power and Crows isn’t just on the field right now, with both clubs looking to poach a rising Saints star. ED BOURKE makes the case for either side.

Desperate to keep Ken Hinkley’s farewell season on the right path, Port Adelaide will throw the kitchen sink at an ominous-looking Adelaide in Saturday night’s grudge match.

But there’s a second Showdown ticking away off the field, where uncertainty lingers over whether either club has a kitchen sink to throw at St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.

The silky-skilled defender is considering a return to his home state, and after a blistering eight-game patch to begin his fourth season, will demand one of the most lucrative contracts in competition history.

The race is on for the star Saint. Picture: Michael Klein

The 22-year-old has been irrepressible amid the Saints’ 4-4 start to the season, and it’s been his efforts in defeat as much as his side’s wins that are causing his value to skyrocket.

In an off-Broadway game at Norwood during Gather Round, Wanganeen-Milera led a bold resistance against a red-hot GWS, pushing forward aggressively to boot 3.1 from 24 disposals – his lowest possession tally so far this season.

St Kilda has the war chest and an appealing new game style centred on its prime movers out of defence, but Wanganeen-Milera and his team have been open about him dealing with a level of homesickness since he arrived with pick 11 in the 2021 draft.

The Crows and Power believe they are in the game, and the fight for his signature will be the latest in a string of battles between the two rivals to lure South Australians home.

It is understood Jack Lukosius had a more lucrative deal in front of him from Adelaide before he made the decision to player under his close friend Connor Rozee at Port.

Lukosius called it an “incredibly tough decision” after receiving “very impressive pitches” from both clubs.

The Crows got one back with GWS free agent Isaac Cumming, after the Power’s strong interest forced an increased offer from their rivals and Taylor Walker pushed hard for his fellow Broken Hill product to join him at West Lakes.

For all three clubs involved, this could be the most pivotal list battle of the next decade.

NASIAH WANGANEEN-MILERA: ST KILDA’S CASE TO RETAIN HIM

Wanganeen-Milera is playing with the freedom and flair of someone who is settled and enjoying their football.

His connection to coach Ross Lyon appears strong, and he has formed great friendships with housemates Mitch Owens and Marcus Windhager along with others including senior wingman Mason Wood and emerging key forward Isaac Keeler.

The normally shy Wanganeen-Milera fronted the Saints’ playing group to announce Keeler’s debut before he played well in the stirring round 2 win over Geelong.

Keeler’s contract expires at the end of this year, but the 198cm forward now has four senior games under his belt and is beginning to put together a case for an extension, which would help encourage his friend to stay.

“I think (he will stay),” teammate Mitch Owens told the Herald Sun this week.

“He’s got really good connections with players and coaches … I would love for him to stay, because he’s become a great friend as well.”

St Kilda is pushing hard for Tom De Koning on a deal which could reach $1.7m per season.

They may need to stump up a similar offer for their star rebounding defender, but giving him the money they have been throwing at midfielders like Zach Merrett and Finn Callaghan would be worth its while – he has the capability to play as a midfielder, and has shown impressive durability so far having played 70 of a possible 76 games since he was an unused substitute in round 1, 2022.

THE CASE FOR THE CROWS

Adelaide did well with its shrewd recruiting of Cumming, Alex Neal-Bullen and James Peatling in the last off-season, but Wanganeen-Milera could complete the puzzle.

The Crows look like a legitimate finals contender, but the polish is still lacking in their transition with the ball out of defensive 50 and their ball use has actually declined in the three games since the error-riddled loss to Geelong.

Since round 6, Adelaide is ranked 16th for ball movement from its defensive 50 to forward 50.

If one of the best kicks in the competition is considering a move home, they are obligated to throw everything his way.

Meeting the Saints’ demands at the trade table, but both SA sides have the advantage of Wanganeen-Milera coming out of contract.

Wanganeen-Milera would offer the Crows some much-needed polish from the back half. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The price Fremantle gave up for Shai Bolton may still be the best guide – picks 10, 11 and 18, with 14 coming back from the Tigers.

Gold Coast handed over picks 6 and 23 to secure Daniel Rioli from Richmond, but the reigning best and fairest turned 28 last month and his ceiling was already known.

The problem for the Crows will be getting up into the draft order enough to satisfy the Saints – on their current trajectory, that first pick in this year’s draft might not come until 13 or 14.

You would be hard-pressed to argue an Adelaide 2026 first-round pick would not be even higher.

They do not have a second-round pick in this year’s draft, and two third-round picks (one of them tied to Melbourne) will not move the needle.

THE CASE FOR THE POWER

Miles Bergman would hold the key for Port Adelaide if it went after Wanganeen-Milera.

The 23-year-old is also out of contract at the end of the season.

He is a former No. 14 pick who has not lost any of that value – and at 189cm, he turned the heads of other clubs as early as mid-2023 when he blanketed Geelong star Jeremy Cameron in a Thursday night prime time clash.

St Kilda wants to bring the versatile defender back to the Bayside area where he grew up, and the Power would almost certainly have to let him go to put together a sufficient package for Wanganeen-Milera.

Bergman has been heavily linked to the Saints. Picture: Michael Klein

Port Adelaide’s first-round pick in this year’s draft went to Gold Coast in the trade that yielded Jack Lukosius and Joe Richards.

But that same deal lost the Power their best ball-user in Dan Houston, and they are still searching for the best way to replace him in defence.

Rozee has been superb since he was shifted to halfback against Hawthorn, but that move will need to be revisited by the season’s end if Zak Butters decides to leave.

Cumming, who is playing mostly on a wing for the Crows, would have been an important acquisition at halfback if the Power had succeeded in luring him across.

It could take Bergman and a pair of first-rounders if they are committed to filling that vacant role with an A-grader in 2026.

Originally published as Power v Crows: The off-field Showdown for Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera