Slowly however certainly, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is reworking from a quiet child to an insightful and guaranteed member of St Kilda’s backline, and his teammates say they’re all the higher for it on the eve of their return to finals motion.
Shifted to halfback after an impassioned plea to Ross Lyon by Saints assistant Corey Enright, the nephew of Brownlow medallist Gavin Wanganeen has been one among his workforce’s most constant gamers in 2023.
The 20-year-old’s numbers this season examine favourably to All-Australian defenders Dan Houston and teammate Jack Sinclair, and together with Sinclair and Callum Wilkie, Wanganeen-Milera has performed each single sport within the competitors’s stingiest defence.
Wanganeen-Milera started the season with an expiring contract and hypothesis swirled that the South Australian would return house after a primary season spent battling homesickness, however in April the Saints had been thrilled to increase his keep till at the very least the tip of 2025.
He stated his rising friendships with younger teammates together with Marcus Windhager, Mitch Owens and Isaac Keeler had been vital in his determination to persevere in Melbourne, together with housemate Mason Wood, who’s having fun with his personal career-best season.
“Obviously, I had my struggles last year … it was really daunting with challenges when I moved away from home, but I had good people around me at the Saints,” Wanganeen-Milera stated.
“Some of the older guys too like Mason Wood, I’ve lived with him for the last year, and Brad Hill as well have made it a lot easier.
“We’ve built a real fun environment here where you just want to come in every day.”
Teammate Ryan Byrnes stated the gamers had been having fun with seeing extra of Wanganeen-Milera’s character shine by means of at Moorabbin, the place he’s consciously attempting to talk up extra in conferences after suggestions from coaches.
“He’s come out of his shell as a person,” Byrnes stated.
“He was quiet in his first year, and now he’s all over the shop, making gags and whatever else.
“Because he is a quieter guy, when he does say stuff it’s usually pretty funny, so it definitely gets the lads up.”
Wanganeen-Milera stated he was properly conscious Saturday’s elimination ultimate in opposition to GWS could be an environment like not one of the 40 video games he had performed to date.
With housemate Wood additionally gearing up for his first ultimate after an extended wait than even Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps, Wanganeen-Milera stated he wouldn’t be taking any of it as a right.
“I’m pretty excited, it’s the first final for a lot of other players as well … for Mase, it’s his 11th year and his first final as well, so we’re pretty keen and looking forward to getting stuck into it,” he stated.
“I don’t know what it feels like yet, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to achieve in my career, and to do it in my sophomore year is pretty special.
“We’re lucky enough to have players who have won premierships here – Hilly has three flags, Zaine Cordy has won one, so they’re people to look to.”
Dan Butler, the third of his premiership-winning teammates, stated Wanganeen-Milera was a priceless supply of information for the group and had begun to contribute extra at workforce conferences.
“His first year, he probably struggled a little bit being away from home. I think the club was great in supporting him, and we’ve got so many good young lads here who he’s got great friendships with,” Butler stated.
“I think he’s got more comfortable over time, and as he has grown he’s got comfortable with the wider group as well.
“We see the way he plays, he’s a smart footballer, so his knowledge is pretty valuable.”
Butler thought opening up across the group had additionally helped Wanganeen-Milera play with extra confidence on the sector.
“He’s been encouraged to speak up more in meetings, which he has done, and he’s still pretty quiet but definitely more relaxed, more comfortable and you can see it on the field in the way he plays,” Butler stated.
“He expresses himself, he takes it on with his kicking – it’s exciting for him and it’s exciting for the club.”
Wanganeen-Milera couldn’t be happier with how the shift from the wing, the place he spent most of his 17 video games in 2022, had unfolded to date.
“I feel a lot more comfortable down there, and I’ve had the help of the older guys down there like Cordy and Wilkie … I’ve pretty much been shadowing Sincs at training, the way he goes about it, it’s helped me a lot,” he stated.
“Our backs coach Corey Enright is a champion of the game, and he’s given me so much advice … he knows what he’s doing, his footy brain is first class.”
Source: www.news.com.au
