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Find your frequency hereRoss Lyon: Catastrophic an understatement if Nas left Saints
SEN • August 19th, 2025 9:18 am
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon admits it would have been an absolute catastrophe if Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera left the club.
The Saints had a great day on Monday when announcing that Wanganeen-Milera had signed a two-year contract to remain in red, white and black until at least the end of 2027.
The 22-year-old South Australian was being courted by both Adelaide and Port Adelaide but committed to the Saints in a significant show of faith.
Saints fans rejoiced upon hearing the news and so did Lyon who explained to Kane Cornes on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters just how bad it would have been if ’Nas’ didn’t re-sign.
Cornes: “It would have been catastrophic if he left?”
Lyon: “Catastrophic!”
Cornes: “That’s a big statement.”
Lyon: “And I think that’s an understatement.”
Cornes: “Can you take us behind the scenes of what was the contingency? What was the Plan B if he did choose to leave?
“Because no one knew, this was on a knife’s edge. What would you have done?”
Lyon: “Well, you don’t know me that well and Graeme Allan.
“There wouldn’t be a deal that would satisfy us.”
Cornes: “So, what would you have done? Would you have redrafted him?”
Lyon: “Well, we didn’t get to that.”
Cornes: “But you would have had the plan. Can you share with the Saints (fans)? How nasty would you have got?”
Lyon: “We had a principle.
“How nasty?”
Cornes: “Because the clubs he was looking to go to had nothing to give.”
Lyon: “It would have been catastrophic nasty.
“But it didn’t get to that, we didn’t think we’d have to get to that.
“We’re not a club that’s going to be walked over.
“We’re having people talking about our contracted players. You know if you induce people to breach that’s against the law.
“So we’re not mucking around here.”
Cornes: “So, if it came to next time that would be a warning to tother clubs?”
Lyon: “Well, that’s not a warning, it’s just that some things aren’t tradable.
“Some things aren’t for sale.”
Lyon explained further what it would have meant for St Kilda’s list strategy if Wanganeen-Milera did happen to depart Moorabbin.
“A good dopamine release, bit of euphoria ... relief as well, because it's such an important piece of our puzzle,” Lyon added.
“It would have been catastrophic for the overall strategy, because from there it's like, well, where's our really high-level performer?
“He's top of the pops at the moment as a 22-year-old. It would mean a recalibrating of the strategy, I would have thought - how many drafts do you need to go to? How do those free agents, that we're trying to track, look?
“So it was a pivotal piece.”
The Saints will wrap up their 2025 season against GWS at ENGIE Stadium on Sunday.
