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Wanganeen-Milera’s manager responds to “false” Crows claims
Andrew Slevison • June 10th, 2025 9:45 am
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera’s manager Ben Williams has denied claims that the St Kilda player has ruled out a potential move to the Adelaide Crows.
Channel 7’s Caroline Wilson reported on Monday night that Wanganeen-Milera, who is out of contract with the Saints this year, has ruled out the Crows due to the Taylor Walker racism incident back in 2021.
Wilson says that the 22-year-old Wanganeen-Milera, drafted out of SANFL club Glenelg, is concerned about the saga which involved former Saint Robbie Young who was the victim of racial abuse while playing for North Adelaide.
“My understanding is that if Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera does leave St Kilda — and that’s not certain, and Stephen Silvagni (Saints list manager) and Ben Williams are speaking on almost a weekly basis — he won’t be going to the Adelaide Football Club,” Wilson said on The Agenda Setters.
“And one of the reasons he won’t be going to the Adelaide Football Club is that he has concerns about an incident that happened back in 2021, an infamous incident that happened involving Taylor Walker and Robbie Young.
“Now, I’m making no comment about the club’s handling of that incident, because my memory is that Matthew Nicks, the coach, was shattered by that incident, and the club did everything they could to get around Robbie Young.
“But Wanganeen-Milera has asked, clarified, that Matthew Nicks was the coach at the time, and has indicated that he doesn’t want to go to the Adelaide Football Club.”
Wilson added: “For a variety of reasons, but specifically Wanganeen-Milera’s issues with Taylor Walker and what happened back then, the view from Port Adelaide and from others in the footy community is that if he does leave he’ll be going to Port Adelaide.”
Wilson also said that the Crows have not been directly informed of that apparent decision by the Wanganeen-Milera camp.
“I don’t think that’s been told to them by Ben Williams. I don’t believe that’s the case,” she said further.
“I think St Kilda are aware of it and so is Port Adelaide.”
However, Wanganeen-Milera’s manager Williams, from Players Ink, says those claims are false.
“Reports made in the media suggesting that Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has ruled out joining the Adelaide Crows due to comments made by Taylor Walker in 2021 are false,” read the statement obtained by 9News Adelaide.
“Nasiah is currently considering his future and at this stage, no decisions have been made, and any speculation suggesting otherwise is inaccurate.”
Amid all the reported turmoil, Port Adelaide players are simply going about their business in their attempt to lure Wanganeen-Milera.
Wilson had floated last week that Jason Horne-Francis and Jase Burgoyne had been doing a lot ‘recruiting’ work just days before the trio were seen together at Yo-Chi in Norwood.
But Horne-Francis suggested it was merely mates catching up for dessert.
“Jase Burgoyne sent me this within four minutes of it being posted and we started cracking up laughing,” he told Triple M Adelaide late last week.
“We’re best mates and we caught up the other night. Jase and ‘Nas’ popped over for dinner and then thought we’d get some dessert, go to Yo-Chi on The Parade.
“We were sitting down and one of the Yo-Chi workers came up to us sand said can we get a photo for the Yo-Chi Instagram of me, Jase Burgoyne and Nasiah Wanagneen-Milera after Caro just said we were doing recruiting.”
Wilson says there is no clear guide to what Wanganeen-Milera may do, but she has heard he has some “real issues” living in Melbourne.
“He’s close friends with Jase Burgoyne and Jason Horne-Francis,” she said further on Monday night.
“We spoke about this on Monday or Tuesday night (last week) and then there they were at Yo-Chi just a night or two later.
“There is no issue between Ross Lyon and his star player.
“I’m really struggling to call it, I really am. I do know that although St Kilda say they’re confident that he has some real issues with life in Melbourne and is very keen to return home.”
Wanganeen-Milera is enjoying a career-best year with the Saints, averaging 28 disposals, five rebound 50s and 619 metres gained as one of the league's premier half-backs.
