There are afternoons in football when one player makes everything around him look ordinary. Saturday in Ballarat was one of those afternoons, and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was that player.
The AFL's first $2 million-a-season man delivered a performance that had former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley reaching for superlatives during Fox Footy's coverage. After Wanganeen-Milera converted his fourth goal, a snap from the left boundary that split the posts with casual precision, Hinkley was unequivocal: "This bloke is the most exciting thing in football at the moment."
Asked whether the Saints star had surpassed Nick Daicos, widely regarded as the competition's best player, Hinkley did not hesitate. "Yeah, I think so, because of this: 4.1. That's what he has gone past."
St Kilda ran out 43-point winners over Essendon, the final scoreline reading 17.13 (115) to 10.12 (72). It was a result that confirmed the Saints' off-season ambitions were not mere talk, and one that sets them up nicely heading into a blockbuster round zero clash against Collingwood at the MCG next Sunday.
Coach Ross Lyon made an eyebrow-raising call midway through the match, pushing Wanganeen-Milera forward for extended spells after the midfielder had begun his day in the engine room. It was a masterstroke. The 23-year-old looked at home in attack, marking strongly in the shadows of quarter-time and converting with the kind of ease that opposition coaches lose sleep over. He finished with 28 disposals to go with his four majors.
"Obviously, I have been up forward a bit. It's been pretty good. The forwards work well. The ball movement up the field, credit to them, they get it down there," Wanganeen-Milera said on Fox Footy, with the understated manner of someone who had just done something quite extraordinary.
Ruckman Rowan Marshall was among those singing his teammate's praises. "You can put him anywhere, he is a superstar, he can do everything," Marshall said.
The victory was built on more than just Wanganeen-Milera's brilliance. Marcus Windhager was exceptional in a new half-back role, racking up 41 disposals. Small forward Jack Higgins kicked three goals and looks primed for a strong goalkicking season, working effectively alongside Mitch Owens, who finished with two. New recruit Liam Ryan, the former Eagle, capped a promising audition with a strong mark and goal late in the final term, a reminder of why St Kilda targeted him so aggressively during the off-season.
There was also genuine curiosity around how Tom De Koning and Marshall would share responsibilities in the same team. Based on Saturday's showing, it should not be a problem. Both can threaten in the forward line and in the ruck, and Hinkley noted the combination as a significant advantage for the Saints.
The concern, however, walked off the field at the end of the first quarter. Co-captain Callum Wilkie, who had been composure personified in the Saints' defensive half, finished the term on the bench with ice strapped to a corked right calf. He hobbled around at the break, and Hinkley flagged the situation as a worry heading into next weekend's game. Wilkie, who has joined Jack Sinclair as co-captain this season, is central to St Kilda's defensive structure and their broader finals ambitions. Small forward Ryan Byrnes also left the ground with an ankle complaint and is in doubt.
Brad Hill was a late withdrawal due to illness but the club expects him to be available for the Collingwood match, which offers some relief.
For Essendon, the afternoon offered genuine encouragement alongside the familiar frustrations of a side still searching for its ceiling. Draftee Dyson Sharp showed impressive work-rate, Brayden Fiorini had moments of quality up forward, and Archie Roberts was busy with 29 disposals. Mature-age ruckman Lachlan Blakiston gave himself a case for round one selection. The real excitement, though, surrounds draftee Hussien El Achkar, who produced a delightful banana goal in the second term. A future combination with Isaac Kako, currently sidelined with a hamstring strain, shapes as one for Bombers fans to anticipate.
Essendon coach Brad Scott's decision to move Zach Merrett to full forward was an interesting tactical wrinkle. It ensured a quality defender had to go to him, but it also told you something about where this Bombers group sits: still experimenting, still searching for the combinations that will make them a genuine threat rather than an occasional one.
The AFL season proper is still a week away, but Saturday in Ballarat offered a clear picture of what St Kilda can be when everything clicks. Ross Lyon's typical template, patient ball use from half-back, numbers committed to defence, and quick movement into the forward line, was evident. The addition of Wanganeen-Milera's forward threat gives that system a dimension it has rarely had.
Whether he truly sits ahead of Daicos in the pecking order is a debate that will run all season. What is not in debate is the quality of what unfolded in Ballarat on Saturday afternoon. The Saints are a genuine finals contender. And their $2 million man is just warming up.