First-round draftee Nasiah Wangaeen-Milera will join St Kilda’s starting 22 this weekend as the club looks to bank its first win of the season against Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
The nephew of Brownlow medallist and five-time All-Australian Gavin Wanganeen made his debut last Friday night as the unused medical sub, with senior coach Brett Ratten confirming the 19-year-old would be one of “a couple of changes” heading into Sunday’s match.
Wanganeen-Milera was widely considered as the best kick of his draft class and was earmarked early as a top selection, with his sure-footed work between the half-back line and wing for Glenelg seeing him join the Saints at pick No. 11.
“Nasiah will play this week, he’ll be in the team,” Ratten said.
“His kicking and his movement has been a real feature, and it’s such a strong part of his game and the reason why he got drafted in the first place.
“He had a little bit of a setback through injury in the early part of pre-season, but it’s a credit to him that he was able to get a look-in for Round 1 and is now in the side for Round 2.
“You feel bad as a match committee when you bring somebody in and they’re the sub and they don’t get on the ground. I was happy he didn’t get on the ground because we didn’t get an injury, but it would have been nice to inject him into the game."
While unforced errors and a lull in centre clearances contributed to St Kilda’s loss against Collingwood, an equal amount of attention has been placed on displaying the club’s mantra of team-first football.
It’s an area Ratten emphasises has been addressed during and after the game to avoid falling “behind the eight ball” two weeks into 2022.
“I think initially everyone was pretty flat, and not (just) because we lost, but the way we played as well,” Ratten said.
“We know last week and how we played was below par, and this is the opportunity (against Fremantle) we get. If we play the way we want to, the result will take care of itself, and that’s probably the disappointing thing that happened against Collingwood.
“We have standards and expectations in certain parts of the game and we have to make sure we maintain that regardless.”
Last week’s breakout debutant Jack Hayes is expected to hold his spot in the line-up and assist Rowan Marshall in the ruck, with Paddy Ryder to ease back into competitive football via the VFL this weekend.
Ryder missed last week’s match with Achilles soreness – the same issue which saw him sit out the last four matches of 2021 – but will be hoping to pull up well for a potential senior return the following round against Richmond.
The Saints have eyes on regaining Jack Billings (hamstring) and Hunter Clark (shoulder) by the end of the month, with the latter cutting several around the oval for the first time post-injury.
Ratten was bullish that Billings could be in the frame for next week’s game against the Tigers, despite completing a fairly light session this morning’s main training block.
Midfielder Zak Jones similarly ticked the legs over after taking personal leave earlier this month, however there is no timeline on his return.
