Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera's manager has given some fascinating insight into the young star's decision to shun the two Adelaide clubs and re-sign with St Kilda.
Wanganeen-Milera's future was among the hottest topics in the sport in recent weeks, which came amid his jaw-dropping performances on the field for a Saints side that has won a morale-boosting four straight games.
He will become the first player in the game to earn more than $2 million per season once his new deal kicks in next year.
The 22-year-old's manager, Ben Williams of Players Ink Sports Management, revealed a number of details behind the decision to commit his next two years to the Saints in a wide-ranging chat with SEN.
Williams said his client was aware of how much he means to the Saints, with the club's fanbase reacting with unbridled joy to the news he had turned down offers from the Crows and Power to return home to South Australia.
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The manager stated the decision rested on the relationships he has built with the club that took him with the 11th pick in the 2021 draft, plus his belief in the Saints' current trajectory.
“What it came down to was he wants to finish what he started with his teammates," Williams said.
“He's got a lot of great relationships there that he plays with and also lives with and has great relationships with his coaches.
“So he just wanted to basically finish what he started and he's got faith in the direction of where the club's going and he wants to be part of that.
“Ultimately, that's what it came down to.”
Williams said Wanganeen-Milera had been totally unaffected by all the speculation over his future, which was reflected in his performances for the Saints.
He also said St Kilda was comfortable with whatever length of deal the budding superstar was seeking.
“They were really fair, they would offer whatever Nas wanted," he continued. “So if it was two years, four years or a big 10-year deal, they were open-minded to all.
“They were flexible and when Nas said that he wanted to do two years, they were happy with that.”
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Originally a damaging defender off half-back, Wanganeen-Milera has been enjoying more time in the midfield, a position both he and the club see as his ideal position moving forward.
The 187cm star, who doesn't turn 23 until February next year, also added some dollars to his deal following his sensational performance in the record comeback victory over the Demons back in round 20.
“Yeah, they did," Williams said when asked if the club offered more following that 46-point comeback at three-quarter-time.
“To be fair, we didn't have to keep pushing them. They were sitting back respectfully, letting us just do his thing.
“They would have wanted us to come back to them with another price.
"At that stage, Nas was looking more and more likely that he was going to stay at St Kilda, so we didn't want to drag them along too much more.”
In the end, Wanganeen-Milera opted against the extended deals favoured by some players in the current market and appears to be exactly where he wants to be as his thrilling career unfolds.