Ross Lyon parties with Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera on his shoulders after Dees win

Rowan Marshall has revealed more about St Kilda’s celebrations after their history-making win over the Demons, plus what it was like setting up the matchwinning play.

St Kilda ruck Rowan Marshall almost joined Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera on the shoulders of coach Ross Lyon during impromptu celebrations hours after a remarkable win over Melbourne, but the ruck was “too heavy” to rise to the heights of his midfield mate.

The Saints carried through with a pre-planned catch up of players’ friends and family at Hotel Brighton on Sunday night, hours after a 46-point comeback against the Dees, with spirits so high Lyon carried Wanganeen-Milera on his shoulders and danced to cheers.

Marshall kicked the ball to Wanganeen-Milera as the seconds ticked down, setting up the midfield gun’s after the siren matchwinner and said he almost joined the Lyon hysterics.

Rowan Marshall gets a kick away against Max Gawn. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

“It was great for everyone to get together and have a good time and I guess the win made it even better,” he said.

“It was pretty fun. I think Ross tried to get me on his shoulders but I was too heavy. Nas is a bit lighter. It was good fun.”

Marshall said replays of an already famous win weren’t on the big screens at Hotel Brighton, but like all Saints fans, he has spent untold time watching highlights back, particularly Wanganeen-Milera’s miraculous hangar that allowed him to tie the scores with less than 10 seconds to play.

That ripping mark didn’t make it into the AFL’s three nominees for mark of the week.

“That mark was incredible. As soon as he took that mark, even though the crowd numbers weren’t that big, it sounded so loud in there so hopefully it is like that this Sunday (against North Melbourne),” he said.

“At the end of the day it was a super win but it was another game of footy and hopefully we turn up next week and put in a performance like we did in that last quarter.”

Marshall said the first three quarters on Sunday was “garbage” from his side and Lyon asked the group whether they wanted to “fold or stand up” at the final break, when the margin was 46 points.

The ruck said the Saints often train late-game scenarios but hadn’t gone through how to play out a free kick from a 6-6-6 infringement, which caused chaos with the Melbourne defence as eight seconds sat on the clock.

Marshall and Marcus Windhager hatched a plan with Wanganeen-Milera to kick to an open part of the forward-50, hoping the Demons would run the wrong way.

The Demons guessed wrong, and Marshall put the ball on a platter for Wanganeen-Milera.

“We knew the ‘iso’ side was going to be on the left because they thought I would probably roll out on the right foot and Nas sort of said ‘kick it to me darting out the right’ and sure enough, as soon as I got the ball, I saw a bit of space and lucky enough the kick came off,” he said.

Rowan Marshall speaks to Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera ahead of the final play of the game. Picture: Michael Klein

Already a star, Wanganeen-Milera’s reputation has only continued to explode after his four-goal, 32 disposal effort to drag the Saints home.

He is out-of-contract at the end of this year amid offers from South Australian sides that only grow by the day.

“We are hopeful. Hopefully he stays,” Marshall said.

“He is such an integral part of this group and all the boys love him.

“Last night was the best individual performance I have seen. He is a freak. What is he only 22 or something? He could be anything. He already is.”

Another pending post-season move at St Kilda is the expected signing of Carlton big man Tom De Koning on a fat contract.

The Blues ruck would come into the same position as Marshall, who is contracted next season but would be heavily courted by other sides hoping to woo him as a No. 1 ruck.

“He (De Koning) is a great player so whatever is going to make us better, that is what we are trying to do so he will make us a better team,” Marshall said.

“There are four games left and I am employed by the St Kilda Football Club to rock up each week and perform and that is probably my sole focus each week. The last two or three weeks have been pretty disappointing individually, so I just want to finish the season well with a strong patch of form and go into next year.”

NAS HOISTED ON LYON’S SHOULDERS IN CELEBRATION

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has been feted atop Ross Lyon’s shoulders at a team event at Hotel Brighton.

In the hours that followed his last-gasp heroics at Marvel Stadium, the out-of-contract star went from in front of goal to on top of his coach’s shoulders.

The players gathered with family and friends with a seven-day break until they play North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

In the vision, Wanganeen-Milera – who kicked an after-the-siren goal to seal a 52-point last-quarter turnaround over Melbourne in Sunday – is hoisted onto Lyon’s shoulders with techno music blasting, to the cheering of teammates with fellow Saints including speedy winger Bradley Hill filming with their phones.

The Saints basked in the glory on Sunday night. Picture: Michael Klein

A raft of Wanganeen-Milera’s teammates had voiced their support for the matchwinner on social media in the aftermath of the game.

Lyon had flagged the get-together in his post-match press conference.

“At the end of the day, it’s four points … get a bit of belief and we all get together (tonight),” he said.

“We’re trying to build out the mortar of the club, we’ve got a family function at a hotel – we’re all getting there.

“We’ll enjoy each other’s company but the stone-cold reality is in 24 hours you’re preparing and it just keeps coming at you. But that’s the business.

“But we did talk about the joy at half-time of playing footy, don’t let it get you down. As a kid, you’d love to be here. We just dive into that space.

“Just the joy of playing football, let alone AFL football.”