
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera's AFL decision down to two as Adelaide ruled out
South Australian-born St Kilda superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera will not play for the Adelaide Crows if he is to request a trade home at the end of the 2025 AFL season.
That's according to The Agenda Setters' Caroline Wilson, who revealed on Monday night that the in-demand Indigenous defender would be uncomfortable at the Crows after a racism incident that dates back to 2021.
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Former Adelaide captain Taylor Walker was slapped with a six-game ban and fined $20,000 in 2021 for a racist slur he made towards then-North Adelaide SANFL player Robbie Young.
Wilson says that still burns in the mind of Wanganeen-Milera, who is yet to commit to the Saints beyond this year and has strong interest from both Adelaide-based clubs.
'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 (Wanganeen-Milera's manager) are speaking on almost a weekly basis — he won't be going to the Adelaide Football Club,' she 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.'
Walker has since completed training and education programs to help better himself in the wake of the incident, which threatened to derail his career at the time.
As it turned out, Walker bounced back from his disgrace to re-establish himself as a leader within the Adelaide and AFL communities, and has played some of the best footy of his career in recent years.
He was asked about the incident in a TV interview on Nine during Gather Round earlier this year, after which he was applauded for 'walking through hell', as host Eddie McGuire described it.
'I made a mistake, and one that I've got to live with for the rest of my life,' Walker said in April.
'But I suppose, when you make mistakes, you get a choice whether you look at it as: you can dwell on it, or you can learn about it.
'I'm very grateful for the support I had around me and I feel like I've learnt a lot, and I'm enjoying my football.'
Wilson said 'a lot of Wanganeen-Milera's friends' and members of 'the South Australian Indigenous community' remain irked that Walker, in that interview — though by no means through any fault of his own necessarily — was painted somewhat as a victim.
'I can't speak to the work that Taylor has done behind the scenes with Robbie Young and the South Australian and footy's Indigenous community, and he didn't set up those questions and that interview — but there was a view from Indigenous leaders across footy that it portrayed Taylor Walker as more of a victim than Robbie Young,' Wilson said.
'And it's just a small thing, but it wasn't a small thing to others who were still badly (hurt) by what happened back in 2021.
'So, 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 will be going to Port Adelaide.'
Asked where she thinks Wanganeen-Milera will be playing next year, Wilson said she remains unsure.
'I'm really struggling to call it, I really am,' she said.
'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 to home to Port.'
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
AFLW marquee stars inducted to hall of fame
Erin Phillips has paid an emotional tribute to her father Greg as she joined him in the Australian Football Hall Of Fame. Phillips and Daisy Pearce are the first AFLW players to be inducted, joining trailblazer Debbie Lee as female inductees. South Australian goalkicking machine Ken Farmer was elevated to legend status at Tuesday night's annual dinner in Melbourne. St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt, whose induction was delayed because of his family move to the United States, joined the Hall of Fame, along with four-time Hawthorn premiership hard nut Luke Hodge and former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon. South Adelaide ruckman Peter Darley, a key member of the club's most recent SANFL premiership in 1964, Tasmanian team of the century vice-captain John Leedham and seven-time East Perth premiership player George Owens are this year's historical inductees. Darley's larrikin speech was one of the highlights of the evening, but Phillips' words to her Dad were particularly special. "To Dad, I can't imagine how hard it would have been to tell your 13-year-old daughter that she couldn't play the game she loves any more," she said, her voice breaking. "And 27 years later, she's standing next to you in the Hall of Fame." Greg Phillips, a Port Adelaide great, was inducted in 2020, and he and Erin are the first father-daughter selections. Fos and Mark Williams, Hayden Bunton Sr and Jr and umpires Jack McMurray Sr and Jr are the father-son inductees. Pearce and Phillips ended their stellar playing careers at the end of 2022. The five-year player eligibility rule for the hall of fame was changed for women last year. AFLW players can now be inducted within a year of retirement. They were the two obvious players who would benefit first from the rule change. In her speech, Phillips also thanked the "incredible women" who made the AFLW possible and singled out Lee. "You kicked down this door so others could walk through," she said. "I'm so proud to be by your side and I can't wait to kick down more doors with you Deb." Pearce's last AFLW game was the Melbourne 2022 grand final victory and she called it the best day of her life, even though her twin children Sylvie and Roy were in the room, hamming it up for the TV cameras. "It's controversial to say this, as a mother ... don't get me wrong, they're the best thing that's ever happened to me, but on a technicality, the day itself is not that good," she said. "Give me grand final day every day of the week." Phillips was Adelaide's inaugural captain and the first women's best and fairest winner, playing in three Crows flags despite needing a knee reconstruction. She then switched to Port Adelaide when they joined the league in 2022. When the women's league started in 2017, marquee players such as Pearce and Phillips were crucial for its profile and credibility. Pearce returned from having the twins in 2019 to captain Melbourne to the flag. Farmer, who died in 1982, is the SANFL's most prolific goalkicker, with 1417 for North Adelaide from 1929-41 in 224 games at an extraordinary average of 6.33 per game. He was never goalless in a game and coached the Roosters to two premierships. Riewolt went agonisingly close to a premiership, playing in St Kilda's draw and two losses across 2009-10. He said he had made his peace with not being able to help the Saints win their elusive second flag "Rather than feeling like I walked away with the game still owing me something, I walk away feeling like the game gave me absolutely everything," he said. Erin Phillips has paid an emotional tribute to her father Greg as she joined him in the Australian Football Hall Of Fame. Phillips and Daisy Pearce are the first AFLW players to be inducted, joining trailblazer Debbie Lee as female inductees. South Australian goalkicking machine Ken Farmer was elevated to legend status at Tuesday night's annual dinner in Melbourne. St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt, whose induction was delayed because of his family move to the United States, joined the Hall of Fame, along with four-time Hawthorn premiership hard nut Luke Hodge and former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon. South Adelaide ruckman Peter Darley, a key member of the club's most recent SANFL premiership in 1964, Tasmanian team of the century vice-captain John Leedham and seven-time East Perth premiership player George Owens are this year's historical inductees. Darley's larrikin speech was one of the highlights of the evening, but Phillips' words to her Dad were particularly special. "To Dad, I can't imagine how hard it would have been to tell your 13-year-old daughter that she couldn't play the game she loves any more," she said, her voice breaking. "And 27 years later, she's standing next to you in the Hall of Fame." Greg Phillips, a Port Adelaide great, was inducted in 2020, and he and Erin are the first father-daughter selections. Fos and Mark Williams, Hayden Bunton Sr and Jr and umpires Jack McMurray Sr and Jr are the father-son inductees. Pearce and Phillips ended their stellar playing careers at the end of 2022. The five-year player eligibility rule for the hall of fame was changed for women last year. AFLW players can now be inducted within a year of retirement. They were the two obvious players who would benefit first from the rule change. In her speech, Phillips also thanked the "incredible women" who made the AFLW possible and singled out Lee. "You kicked down this door so others could walk through," she said. "I'm so proud to be by your side and I can't wait to kick down more doors with you Deb." Pearce's last AFLW game was the Melbourne 2022 grand final victory and she called it the best day of her life, even though her twin children Sylvie and Roy were in the room, hamming it up for the TV cameras. "It's controversial to say this, as a mother ... don't get me wrong, they're the best thing that's ever happened to me, but on a technicality, the day itself is not that good," she said. "Give me grand final day every day of the week." Phillips was Adelaide's inaugural captain and the first women's best and fairest winner, playing in three Crows flags despite needing a knee reconstruction. She then switched to Port Adelaide when they joined the league in 2022. When the women's league started in 2017, marquee players such as Pearce and Phillips were crucial for its profile and credibility. Pearce returned from having the twins in 2019 to captain Melbourne to the flag. Farmer, who died in 1982, is the SANFL's most prolific goalkicker, with 1417 for North Adelaide from 1929-41 in 224 games at an extraordinary average of 6.33 per game. He was never goalless in a game and coached the Roosters to two premierships. Riewolt went agonisingly close to a premiership, playing in St Kilda's draw and two losses across 2009-10. He said he had made his peace with not being able to help the Saints win their elusive second flag "Rather than feeling like I walked away with the game still owing me something, I walk away feeling like the game gave me absolutely everything," he said. Erin Phillips has paid an emotional tribute to her father Greg as she joined him in the Australian Football Hall Of Fame. Phillips and Daisy Pearce are the first AFLW players to be inducted, joining trailblazer Debbie Lee as female inductees. South Australian goalkicking machine Ken Farmer was elevated to legend status at Tuesday night's annual dinner in Melbourne. St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt, whose induction was delayed because of his family move to the United States, joined the Hall of Fame, along with four-time Hawthorn premiership hard nut Luke Hodge and former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon. South Adelaide ruckman Peter Darley, a key member of the club's most recent SANFL premiership in 1964, Tasmanian team of the century vice-captain John Leedham and seven-time East Perth premiership player George Owens are this year's historical inductees. Darley's larrikin speech was one of the highlights of the evening, but Phillips' words to her Dad were particularly special. "To Dad, I can't imagine how hard it would have been to tell your 13-year-old daughter that she couldn't play the game she loves any more," she said, her voice breaking. "And 27 years later, she's standing next to you in the Hall of Fame." Greg Phillips, a Port Adelaide great, was inducted in 2020, and he and Erin are the first father-daughter selections. Fos and Mark Williams, Hayden Bunton Sr and Jr and umpires Jack McMurray Sr and Jr are the father-son inductees. Pearce and Phillips ended their stellar playing careers at the end of 2022. The five-year player eligibility rule for the hall of fame was changed for women last year. AFLW players can now be inducted within a year of retirement. They were the two obvious players who would benefit first from the rule change. In her speech, Phillips also thanked the "incredible women" who made the AFLW possible and singled out Lee. "You kicked down this door so others could walk through," she said. "I'm so proud to be by your side and I can't wait to kick down more doors with you Deb." Pearce's last AFLW game was the Melbourne 2022 grand final victory and she called it the best day of her life, even though her twin children Sylvie and Roy were in the room, hamming it up for the TV cameras. "It's controversial to say this, as a mother ... don't get me wrong, they're the best thing that's ever happened to me, but on a technicality, the day itself is not that good," she said. "Give me grand final day every day of the week." Phillips was Adelaide's inaugural captain and the first women's best and fairest winner, playing in three Crows flags despite needing a knee reconstruction. She then switched to Port Adelaide when they joined the league in 2022. When the women's league started in 2017, marquee players such as Pearce and Phillips were crucial for its profile and credibility. Pearce returned from having the twins in 2019 to captain Melbourne to the flag. Farmer, who died in 1982, is the SANFL's most prolific goalkicker, with 1417 for North Adelaide from 1929-41 in 224 games at an extraordinary average of 6.33 per game. He was never goalless in a game and coached the Roosters to two premierships. Riewolt went agonisingly close to a premiership, playing in St Kilda's draw and two losses across 2009-10. He said he had made his peace with not being able to help the Saints win their elusive second flag "Rather than feeling like I walked away with the game still owing me something, I walk away feeling like the game gave me absolutely everything," he said.


The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Coaches' coffers boosted after months of soft cap angst
AFL coaches have had a win as they lobby for more soft cap relief, with head office announcing several financial measures to boost club football departments. From next year, senior coaches can earn up to $100,000 outside the soft cap from marketing service agreements. Geelong coach Chris Scott's deal with a club sponsor, announced late last year, raised eyebrows and reportedly attracted AFL attention. The soft cap limit will also rise by $750,000 next year, up from the original $250,000 boost. In 2027 the increase will be $350,000, an increase of $100,000 on what had been announced. From next season, 20 per cent of the salary of the most senior assistant coach or coaching director will sit outside the soft cap. That is on top of 20 per cent of the senior coach's salary already being outside the cap. "The combined impact of these changes for each club is estimated to be an additional $1.4 million of spend capacity per club over 2026-27, over and above the existing planned increases," the league said in a statement. The AFL will also stump up $500,000 to support coaches in their professional development and career transition. It follows months of growing angst among coaches and clubs, with the soft cap sharply reduced at the start of COVID-19. In April, St Kilda coach Ross Lyon derided the coaches' association as a "paper tiger", while Essendon counterpart Brad Scott said he had never seen the coaching group as a whole feel so disenfranchised. Brisbane premiership coach Chris Fagan made a presentation to the AFL commission late last year, while league chief executive Andrew Dillon has had a series of meetings in the past few weeks with senior coaches. "The soft cap is in place to provide some guard rails, such that each club can afford to put together a competitive football program," Dillon said. "How clubs choose to allocate and spend it across their football department is at their discretion to suit their specific circumstances. "Coaches are key leaders who play a pivotal role in our game and at their clubs. This additional soft cap space, earning capacity and support, recognises this importance. "The meetings we have had across the year allowed me to see first-hand their passion for the game and pressures associated with being a coach in such a high-profile role." Coaches' association chief executive Alistair Nicholson welcomed the changes, also noting the league would provide more detail soon. "In addition to the increases to the soft cap, which will increase a coach's earning potential, the introduction of a senior coach marketing agreement and the soft cap concession that will benefit the senior assistant coach or director of coaching, helps to recognise the significant contribution coaches make to the success of the game," Nicholson said. "We also acknowledge the contribution to professional development and transition that will complement the support already provided by the AFLCA." AFL coaches have had a win as they lobby for more soft cap relief, with head office announcing several financial measures to boost club football departments. From next year, senior coaches can earn up to $100,000 outside the soft cap from marketing service agreements. Geelong coach Chris Scott's deal with a club sponsor, announced late last year, raised eyebrows and reportedly attracted AFL attention. The soft cap limit will also rise by $750,000 next year, up from the original $250,000 boost. In 2027 the increase will be $350,000, an increase of $100,000 on what had been announced. From next season, 20 per cent of the salary of the most senior assistant coach or coaching director will sit outside the soft cap. That is on top of 20 per cent of the senior coach's salary already being outside the cap. "The combined impact of these changes for each club is estimated to be an additional $1.4 million of spend capacity per club over 2026-27, over and above the existing planned increases," the league said in a statement. The AFL will also stump up $500,000 to support coaches in their professional development and career transition. It follows months of growing angst among coaches and clubs, with the soft cap sharply reduced at the start of COVID-19. In April, St Kilda coach Ross Lyon derided the coaches' association as a "paper tiger", while Essendon counterpart Brad Scott said he had never seen the coaching group as a whole feel so disenfranchised. Brisbane premiership coach Chris Fagan made a presentation to the AFL commission late last year, while league chief executive Andrew Dillon has had a series of meetings in the past few weeks with senior coaches. "The soft cap is in place to provide some guard rails, such that each club can afford to put together a competitive football program," Dillon said. "How clubs choose to allocate and spend it across their football department is at their discretion to suit their specific circumstances. "Coaches are key leaders who play a pivotal role in our game and at their clubs. This additional soft cap space, earning capacity and support, recognises this importance. "The meetings we have had across the year allowed me to see first-hand their passion for the game and pressures associated with being a coach in such a high-profile role." Coaches' association chief executive Alistair Nicholson welcomed the changes, also noting the league would provide more detail soon. "In addition to the increases to the soft cap, which will increase a coach's earning potential, the introduction of a senior coach marketing agreement and the soft cap concession that will benefit the senior assistant coach or director of coaching, helps to recognise the significant contribution coaches make to the success of the game," Nicholson said. "We also acknowledge the contribution to professional development and transition that will complement the support already provided by the AFLCA." AFL coaches have had a win as they lobby for more soft cap relief, with head office announcing several financial measures to boost club football departments. From next year, senior coaches can earn up to $100,000 outside the soft cap from marketing service agreements. Geelong coach Chris Scott's deal with a club sponsor, announced late last year, raised eyebrows and reportedly attracted AFL attention. The soft cap limit will also rise by $750,000 next year, up from the original $250,000 boost. In 2027 the increase will be $350,000, an increase of $100,000 on what had been announced. From next season, 20 per cent of the salary of the most senior assistant coach or coaching director will sit outside the soft cap. That is on top of 20 per cent of the senior coach's salary already being outside the cap. "The combined impact of these changes for each club is estimated to be an additional $1.4 million of spend capacity per club over 2026-27, over and above the existing planned increases," the league said in a statement. The AFL will also stump up $500,000 to support coaches in their professional development and career transition. It follows months of growing angst among coaches and clubs, with the soft cap sharply reduced at the start of COVID-19. In April, St Kilda coach Ross Lyon derided the coaches' association as a "paper tiger", while Essendon counterpart Brad Scott said he had never seen the coaching group as a whole feel so disenfranchised. Brisbane premiership coach Chris Fagan made a presentation to the AFL commission late last year, while league chief executive Andrew Dillon has had a series of meetings in the past few weeks with senior coaches. "The soft cap is in place to provide some guard rails, such that each club can afford to put together a competitive football program," Dillon said. "How clubs choose to allocate and spend it across their football department is at their discretion to suit their specific circumstances. "Coaches are key leaders who play a pivotal role in our game and at their clubs. This additional soft cap space, earning capacity and support, recognises this importance. "The meetings we have had across the year allowed me to see first-hand their passion for the game and pressures associated with being a coach in such a high-profile role." Coaches' association chief executive Alistair Nicholson welcomed the changes, also noting the league would provide more detail soon. "In addition to the increases to the soft cap, which will increase a coach's earning potential, the introduction of a senior coach marketing agreement and the soft cap concession that will benefit the senior assistant coach or director of coaching, helps to recognise the significant contribution coaches make to the success of the game," Nicholson said. "We also acknowledge the contribution to professional development and transition that will complement the support already provided by the AFLCA."

Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
AFL Hall of Fame 2025: Inductees revealed including Garry Lyon, Luke Hodge and Nick Riewoldt
Lyon had to laugh at himself the replays of him sitting under two of Melbourne's best ever marks as both Shaun Smith and Jeff Farmer used their teammate as a stepladder. It was fitting in one sense: Lyon made his teammates better. He coached Australia in International Rules but never wanted to be a coach. His love of the game had no limits, but he limited how much the game controlled his life. Now 26 years – almost to the day – since he retired after 226 matches due to back issues, his contribution to the game has finally been recognised. Joining him are two modern greats, both No.1 draft picks, who also parlayed their football brilliance into media careers in Hawthorn's Luke Hodge and St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt. Of course Hodge's final 41 games were spent in a Brisbane Lions jumper, but he is a Hawthorn great. He led the club to three consecutive flags in 2013-2015 and was best on ground in his first in 2008, one of two Norm Smith medals won by Hodge. He played on the biggest stages without losing the perspective he'd gained in the rough and tumble of football in Colac. A brilliant left foot kick he attacked the football with zeal and controlled the game from wherever he was positioned, maturing into the game's best leader. The saint Nick Riewoldt was a blond high-flying forward who ran opponents off their legs to mark on the wing or around the 50-metre mark or deep in the goal square. Part of a golden generation at the Saints who just fell short of a premiership he became their best player and captain. His mark at the SCG in 2004 when he tracked the flight of the ball to storm into oncoming players is regarded as one of the most courageous taken this century. Set to be inducted last season he was living overseas with family; with his moment arriving now. AFLW pioneers Daisy Pearce and Erin Phillips have been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame ahead of time as the league considered it necessary to ensure the vital contribution of these champion female players is recognised. Phillips becomes the first father-daughter inductee joining her father Greg who was inducted in 2020 while Pearce's name is synonymous with AFLW. South Australian goalkicking freak Ken Farmer became a legend for his incredible goalkicking feats while former greats South Australia's Peter Darley, Western Australia's George Owens and Tasmania's John Leedham were also inducted.