Jase Burgoyne reveals his Port Adelaide pitch to St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera

Jase Burgoyne considers Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera ‘pretty much’ a brother – and he’s doing all he can to lure the St Kilda star back home across the border. Will his latest pitch work?

Jase Burgoyne hopes his “extremely close” friendship with St Kilda’s Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera can help sway the out-of-contract star to join Port Adelaide.

Burgoyne says the South Australian Saint, who he has known since the age of about eight, remains undecided on his football future as he weighs up re-signing or returning to his home state at season’s end.

Fresh off his own four-year contract extension, Burgoyne said his pitch to someone he considered “pretty much” like a brother centred on how fun it would be to reunite as Power teammates.

The 21-year-old and Port midfielder Jason Horne-Francis caught up with Wanganeen-Milera for frozen yoghurt last month when the St Kilda half-back was in town, sparking speculation about the role the duo would play in the decision.

Jason Horne-Francis and Jase Burgoyne. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“We’re extremely close,” said Burgoyne, who re-signed on Thursday.

“We’re talking every day and every time he’s back in Adelaide, we’re catching up, a bit of Yo-Chi here and there, which was pretty funny when that got out.

“He’s already got links here, his uncle (Gavin Wanganeen) played here and growing up he was around the club a little bit.

“I’ve said to him ‘we’re going to have fun. We’ve got me here, Horny (Horne-Francis)’, plus he knows some of the other boys like Josh (Sinn).

“It’s a serious job, AFL, but I’ve said to him ‘think about the fun we can have as well’.”

Burgoyne was unsure if Port was the only SA club Wanganeen-Milera, 22, was considering amid strong interest from the Crows.

“He’s going to do what’s best for his family … hopefully that’s here,” he said.

Burgoyne described Wanganeen-Milera as a top-five player in the AFL, a rise that had surprised him.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is in demand. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

They were teammates as state juniors and through the AFL academy, as well as opponents in Aboriginal carnivals.

“He’s always been good but I never thought he’d be this good,” Burgoyne said.

“He’s unbelievable, the things he can do and he can play multiple positions.

“I’d love to have him here, the boys would and the fans because he’s such a talent.

“He could push us further in contention for a premiership.”

A father-son selection at pick 60 in the 2021 national draft, Burgoyne has played 52 AFL games for the club, including all 16 this year.

The half-back/wingman, who would be 26 by the end of his deal, hoped to finish his career at the Power, where his dad, Peter, and uncle, Shaun, were premiership-winning club greats.

His younger brother, Rome, is playing SANFL for Port.

“I had Dad in my ear a fair bit,” he said of his contract decision.

“To keep adding to that legacy over the next four years is pretty special.”

Burgoyne said seeing housemate Sinn and fellow Victorian Miles Bergman last week extend their stays for two years added confidence to him locking in his deal.

“(A fortnight ago), Josh said ‘I’m think I’m about to re-sign’ so I was like ‘ah, I better get rolling then,” he said.

PORT TO RE-SIGN BREAKOUT FATHER-SON STAR

Port Adelaide is set to re-sign father-son product Jase Burgoyne on a four-year deal.

Burgoyne will follow Miles Bergman and Josh Sinn in recommitting to the Power over the past fortnight as the club prepares to lock him down until the end of 2029.

Selected at pick 60 in the 2021 national draft, Burgoyne has established himself at AFL level these past two seasons, playing 39 of a possible 42 games.

The 21-year-old wingman/half-back always intended to remain at Alberton, where he had strong family ties.

Jase Burgoyne after the final siren in last year’s qualifying final. Picture: Michael Klein

His dad, Peter, and uncle, Shaun, are Power greats and 2004 premiership winners, while his grandfather, Peter Sr, is a former Port SANFL player.

Burgoyne has worn his dad’s former No. 7 guernsey the past two seasons.

He told this masthead in March that “there’s nothing really to worry about” that he remained unsigned beyond this year.

“I’d love to (stay),” Burgoyne said at the time.

“They gave me the chance to live out my boyhood dream.

“I’ve loved being at the club.”

Burgoyne had a breakout 2024 that included winning the Power’s coaches award as most improved, playing 23 of 26 games and being best on ground in the semi-final win over Hawthorn.

He has not missed a match this year while averaging a career-high 20 disposals.

Burgoyne started this season strongly, kicking two goals from 32 touches against Richmond in round 2, then being one of the Power’s best in the loss to Essendon the next week.

His form has been a little inconsistent of late, but he looms as an important part of the future under incoming coach Josh Carr.

Port is expected to announce Burgoyne’s re-signing in the coming days.

Victorian duo Bergman and Sinn last week extended their deals until the end of 2027.

HINKLEY’S SAD REALISATION AFTER 13-YEAR TENURE

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says it is starting to sink in that his 13-year run at the club is set to end without a premiership.

“It does a bit because that is the journey it sends you on,” said Hinkley, who was handing the reins to senior assistant Josh Carr at season’s end.

“There’s some really dark spots at different times and you’re ultimately just chasing one thing.

“For me and us as a footy club, we’ve embraced every opportunity to be as good as we could be to try to ultimately win a premiership.

“If that’s not this year, it’s not this year, but as long as this footy club wins a premiership soon, everyone will be happy.”

Hinkley’s teams have made the major round in seven of his 12 completed seasons, going as far as a preliminary final four times, but is poised to fall short this year.

Ken Hinkley’s 13-year run as coach will likely end without a premiership. Picture: Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Power sits in 11th spot, three wins and 24.4 per cent outside the top eight with seven rounds remaining.

Hinkley said Port was determined to “play well and the right way every week” without gifting games to anyone who did not deserve it.

The club has used the fourth-most players in the AFL this year and had five debutants.

“We’ve exposed our list a lot so it’s not like we’re looking to expose too many we haven’t already seen,” Hinkley said.

“We’re always exploring our list and will continue to do that, but we won’t explore our list at the expense of giving our best performances.

“We’re still in the business of winning football as much as we possibly can between now and the end of the year, and that’s the most important thing we should be trying to focus on.

“I’m really confident that our players behave like that, train like that and play like that.”

Josh Carr will take over at season’s end. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Season-ending injuries to leadership group member Sam Powell-Pepper, key defender Esava Ratugolea and ruckman Dante Visentini will prompt at least three changes for Sunday’s home match against West Coast.

Forwards Ollie Lord and Jeremy Finlayson booted five goals apiece in the SANFL to put themselves in the selection frame, along with big man Ivan Soldo.

Hinkley’s message to Powell-Pepper post-surgery on Monday night was “I look forward to seeing you play your next game”.

“It quickly turns into you’re one day into recovery,” said Hinkley, Powell-Pepper’s only AFL coach.

“He’s such a great person and he will get after his rehab.”

Originally published as Jase Burgoyne reveals his Port Adelaide pitch to St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera