St Kilda superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera could face disciplinary action after an interaction with the crowd in the dying stages of Sunday's 22-point loss to the Western Bulldogs. The 23-year-old racked up a career-high 44 disposals and a goal in a brilliant individual performance, but the injury-hit Saints fell short, 12.11 (83) to 8.13 (61).
Gesture in Final Minute
Wanganeen-Milera came off the ground in the final minute of the match and appeared to make a gesture towards the crowd. It remains unclear if any words were exchanged, but it seemed he was responding to someone sitting behind the bench. The incident was captured by Seven's cameras.
"Career-high disposals for Nas and a little bit of crowd interaction as well," St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt said on Seven. "Greg Swann has relaxed a little on those type of interactions, but we'll see where that one lands." Alister Nicholson added: "This will be a talking point ... something has clearly been said, footballers shouldn't have to put up with that. It's a fairly harmless response."
AFL Precedent for Fines
The AFL has previously fined players for making rude gestures to the crowd, with Bailey Smith, Harley Reid, Jack Ginnivan, and Suns coach Damien Hardwick all sanctioned last year. However, there have been no such instances in 2025 so far. The league will review the footage to determine if Wanganeen-Milera's actions warrant a penalty.
Injuries Compound Saints' Woes
St Kilda's defeat was compounded by injuries to key duo Jack Sinclair and Tom De Koning. Sinclair went down in the first quarter with a calf injury, though the club has serious concerns over an Achilles issue after his foot was placed in a moon boot. An Achilles rupture would rule the co-captain out for the rest of the season.
De Koning, the highly-paid recruit, suffered a heavy hit to the ribs in the second quarter. He was assessed in the rooms, briefly returned late in the second term, but his condition worsened and he was ruled out at halftime. He was taken to hospital after the match. Rowan Marshall also battled on after receiving treatment on a shoulder injury in the third quarter.
Wanganeen-Milera's Career-Best Performance
Wanganeen-Milera was comfortably St Kilda's best, amassing 37 disposals by three-quarter time and finishing with a career-high 44. Despite his efforts, the Saints were unable to overcome the Bulldogs, who responded after a heavy loss to Adelaide the previous week.
Bulldogs' Defensive Focus
The Bulldogs adopted a clear defensive focus, blunting St Kilda's attacking weapons. Buku Khamis and James O'Donnell held down the defensive 50, while Marcus Bontempelli was typically excellent with 34 possessions and 13 clearances. His classy goal late in the second quarter was the highlight of a scrappy contest.
The win lifts the Bulldogs to seventh on the ladder with a 9-6 record. They will face premiership contenders Sydney at the SCG after their bye next week. St Kilda, now 6-9, also have a week off before meeting last-placed Essendon in round 17, facing an uphill battle to qualify for the wildcard weekend.
