Project Nasiah: Cornes tips Tassie to zero in on superstar Saint

SEN • July 25th, 2026 2:36 pm

Who will be the face of the Tasmania Devils once they enter the competition in 2028?

While they’ve been widely tipped to land the likes of Collingwood’s Beau McCreery and Richmond’s Rhyan Mansell, Cornes is certain they’ll go about landing at least one big fish to be the face of the club for their inaugural season.

The Devils have already stated that they’ll be going specifically after out-of-contract stars and free agents to not affect their immense draft hand, and Cornes thinks that means there’s one obvious name in that bracket that stands above the rest. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.

While Nasiah isn’t technically a free agent when his contract ends at the end of the 2027 season, Tasmania can sign up to 18 uncontracted players from rival clubs effectively as ‘free agents’ (with a maximum of one per club), which brings the 23-year-old to the top of the list.

Cornes discussed the player Tassie should build around with his SEN Breakfast co-host David King as the duo agreed that the Devils must get one superstar as their on-field leader.

Cornes: “Now with Tassie, what level of player is going to be acceptable to build the club around?

“We had Gold Coast with Gary Ablett Jr, and Tasmania have got this bonus and they've got this $5 million bonus which they can spread, or they can give it to one player.

“Now, take out contracts and the logistics of trying to get these players.

“If I said to you, ‘Is this level of player acceptable to build the club around? Shai Bolton’. Is that a big enough name for you to be happy with at Tassie?”

King: “Probably not.”

Cornes: “If I said Will Ashcroft, is that a big enough?”

King: “Hmmm, yeah, he’s a 25 to 30 (disposal getter), he’s reliable, a good leader, a solid citizen week in, week out, not a flighty player. You’d want something like that.

Cornes: “Nasiah is the one that I think is going to be, I think that it'll be ‘Project Nasiah’. I think that that'll be the one, it lines up (with his contract).

“You’re of the view it needs to be one marquee signing at least, then you build around?”

King: “You need your man out the front of the pack, come with me boys, the leader. The leader on field.”

Cornes: “The face of the club.”

King: “I want someone who will meaningfully swing a game. If he’s not worthy of a tag, you’ve got it wrong.”