No player in recent memory has increased their contract value as rapidly as St Kilda’s Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.

Just three weeks ago, reports emerged that the Saints were willing to offer the 22-year-old $1.2 million per year to keep him beyond this season.

Two weeks later, his price tag reportedly jumped another $200,000 annually. His form had soared again, this time thanks to a seamless move into Ross Lyon’s midfield.

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And now, after a stunning 34-disposal, four-goal performance against Melbourne — including a goal after the siren to seal the biggest fourth-quarter comeback in V/AFL history — Seven’s Caroline Wilson has reported that St Kilda has again upped its offer.

Wilson reported that St Kilda thinks a two-year, $1.4 million-a-season offer to Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, which is the most the Saints have ever offered one of their players in club history, is their “best chance” of retaining the out-of-contract star.

It’s a value surge as sharp and sudden as any we’ve seen before — especially for an unsigned player with an uncertain future.

With finals now out of reach, St Kilda has just four games remaining this season. Worryingly, its most prized asset is still yet to re-sign.

To their credit, the Saints have gone all-in. Not only have they tabled massive money, but they’ve reshaped their midfield to give Wanganeen-Milera more responsibility — and more of the footy. And he’s delivered. Over the last month alone, he’s averaged nearly 35 disposals and over one goal a game.

“He can play anywhere. I think he’s now that special type of player that can play anywhere like some of the other best mids in the competition,” St Kilda great Leigh Montagna told foxfooty.com.au.

“We know he can play behind the ball, and he’s proven now that he can play in at centre bounce. He’s also got the attributes that he can play forward as well. They’re the qualities that you want in a in a superstar player.”

THE THREE CONTENDERS

It’s that versatility and X-factor that will earn Wanganeen-Milera the ultimate payday — either at St Kilda, Port Adelaide or Adelaide.

Sources have long touted the Power as frontrunners in the race for ‘Nas’, given his close relationship with the likes of Jason Horne-Francis. The Glenelg product was also in the club’s Next Generation Academy before being drafted to the Saints.

Nasiah’s game-winning TWO goals in 15s! | 00:36

Now though, where he lands is genuinely anyone’s guess.

Port Adelaide is still considered the favourite if he leaves Moorabbin, with Adelaide still lurking. But the intangible moments Wanganeen-Milera has shared with St Kilda in recent weeks — mostly revolving around Sunday afternoon’s heroic comeback — are things rival clubs simply can’t buy.

“He deserves to be highly paid,” Montagna continued to foxfooty.com.au.

“The biggest thing for me that we’ve found this year, I’ve found this year that he’s probably got a level of the ‘it’ factor. We knew he had the talent, but I think we’ve now seen the development that he wants to be ‘the man’ — that special X-Factor and quality that all the champions have in them.

“He has a level of competitiveness and will to win, that ‘jump on my back’ attitude.”

SAINTS LIST D-DAY

St Kilda is again at a list management crossroads.

The heavily-scrutinised future of Carlton ruck Tom De Koning has come with a price tag even bigger than that tabled for Wanganeen-Milera.

If the Saints land De Koning, it could trigger dominoes — including the potential departure of star ruck Rowan Marshall — as the club faces calls on more than a dozen out-of-contract players.

Trade whispers: The ruck merry-go-round | 04:54

Retaining a player of Wanganeen-Milera’s calibre is critical to any club’s culture — let alone St Kilda, which hasn’t tasted premiership success since 1966.

Equally, targeting stars like De Koning can point to the belief in what Ross Lyon is building. Recent long-term extensions for the likes of Jack Higgins and Mitchito Owens reflect that same optimism.

“If you’re going to be a top-four regular or contender trying to win a premiership, you need to have at least one of a special quality. But really, you need it a couple of them that are potential Hall of Fame type players,” Montagna said.

“He’s the one right now for St Kilda that has got those attributes in him that you need if you’re going to be trying to win that second flag that they’re chasing.

“I wouldn’t have thought what happens in the last month of the season would be determining Nas’ future and what he decides to do … I think he’s been there long enough he knows the trajectory of the club, what he values and what he rates.”

Nasi & Higgins react to INSANE finish! | 02:48

AND IF THE SAINTS DON’T SIGN HIM?

In the words of premiership Eagle Will Schofield, it could go all ends up if Nasiah elects to head home to South Australia.

“If you don’t sign Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, you may as well ship the whole place — take it to the 20th (AFL) team, wherever that’s going to be,” Schofield told Fox Footy’s AFL Tonight on Wednesday evening.

“Not signing (him) would be a disaster. For the fan base, for the people that support the footy club, staff, teammates. I just can’t see how you don’t get this done.

“If you’re apart in years offered or dollars on the table, go and get it done. Get him to take a blank piece of paper in, write his number and then say: ‘Sign away, here’s the deal’ — and you just do it.

“It’s a no-brainer. He’s close to the best player in the game right now, and you’re telling me St Kilda, who can’t sign a ‘big fish’ … if they don’t sign him, pack it up — it’s finished.”

St Kilda has made its move more than once, as have Port Adelaide and Adelaide. Whose pitch is enough to sign Nasiah though, is the million-dollar question that is literally rising by the week.