St Kilda chief executive Carl Dilena has declared the Saints remain confident of retaining Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
The midfield jet is weighing up a $1.4 million a year offer from the Saints, most likely over two years, or he has the opportunity next season to return home to South Australia to join either the Crows or the Power.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera of the Saints kicks the ball under pressure from Kamdyn McIntosh of the Tigers.Credit: Getty Images
The Power and Crows have presented the 22-year-old with a range of short- and long-term offers.
Dilena gave a 7.5 out of 10 when asked for his confidence on securing the Saints’ most important player.
“You’d always prefer to get things done early, particularly with a quality player like Nas,” Dilena told 3AW on Saturday.
“As you say, I don’t think he accelerated the way he did and became one of the premier players of the competition in such a short space of time. But, having said that, we are going through the process with the manager. It is a slow process but it is a process.
“I am optimistic, pretty confident, that we should be able to get there. It’s just going to take a little bit of time.”
Wanganeen-Milera’s value has skyrocketed in a stellar season by the silky playmaker, particularly since his match-winning efforts against Melbourne.
The Saints have offered Carlton ruckman a seven-year deal worth $12 million, but Dilena insisted the Saints had never short changed Wanganeen-Milera.
“I think things are pretty fluid and dynamic when it comes to taking to managers in what gets reported and what gets speculated upon,” Dilena said.
“All I know is we probably have two of the most experienced list managers in the game (Stephen Silvagni and Graeme Allen), and they do an incredible job. They have done an incredible job over the last few years reshaping our salary cap, our playing list, there have been a lot of changes there to build that capacity.
“With Nas very early on, he was probably in the position of being offered the highest salary of anyone on our list. I don’t think you are doing anything too wrong when you are in that space already.”
The Glenelg product has family links to the Power, where his uncle Gavin Wanganeen was a premiership player and club great, while he is great friends with Jason Horne-Francis and Jase Burgoyne.
The Power do not have a first-round selection this year, but could offer future first rounders in 2026 and 2027. The Crows’ first-rounder this year could be pick 17 or 18, and even drop to 27.