Without St Kilda’s willingness to take a bold step, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera might have been playing for Port Adelaide against his former teammates on Sunday night at Adelaide Oval. However, the Saints made a significant move by offering the 23-year-old a two-year contract worth $2 million per year, ensuring he remains with the club. Both South Australian teams made substantial offers to entice the former Glenelg reserves premiership player back home, but the Saints’ commitment proved decisive.
On Sunday night, during the final match of Gather Round, Wanganeen-Milera will face Zak Butters, who is expected to be one of the next players to command a $2 million annual salary. Butters is seen as a potential top free agent, similar to Tom Lynch when he moved to Richmond in 2018 after eight seasons with Gold Coast. This matchup is more than just a game; it highlights the evolving landscape of player valuation in the AFL.
The ability of top-tier players to earn such high salaries is not solely due to individual talent. It also reflects the broader dynamics of the player movement and salary market. Wanganeen-Milera has become a key figure for the Saints, benefiting from a combination of factors that have elevated his value in the league.
While Butters may currently be considered a more valuable player, his potential to transform a club’s fortunes is greater than Wanganeen-Milera’s. This is partly due to the quality of support he has around him if he decides to join the Western Bulldogs or Geelong in 2027. Although Butters doesn’t kick goals, he excels at starting scoring chains and consistently performs under pressure. His ability to elevate those around him makes him a unique asset.
Despite his high salary, Wanganeen-Milera is not yet at Butters’ level. He is versatile and damaging, but still learning how to handle opponents effectively. His coach, Ross Lyon, acknowledged that while Wanganeen-Milera is performing well, he cannot do it alone. Lyon emphasized the need for other players to step up and support him, pointing to names like Mattaes Phillipou, Sam Flanders, and others who must improve their performance.
Successful team management often hinges on how many players perform above their salary. Darcy Wilson is an example of someone not rushing to re-sign, but many others are not meeting expectations relative to their wages. Even Wanganeen-Milera, despite being a star, isn’t fully justifying his high salary. In contrast, Butters is playing at a level that matches his million-dollar contract.
Both players reached elite status after about 75 games, with Butters breaking through in 2023 and Wanganeen-Milera joining the elite late last season. Butters signed his current contract worth around a million dollars after 93 games and a fourth-place finish in the Brownlow, while Wanganeen-Milera signed his big deal after 86 games and an equal 10th place in the Brownlow (though he should have been ninth).
This shows that the difference in their career trajectories is largely due to the money Wanganeen-Milera is earning in his fifth year, compared to what Butters was earning earlier. The gap is nearly double. This is why it was a setback for the Saints that they didn’t lock down Wanganeen-Milera earlier when it would have cost half as much.
Butters is entering his free agency year three years ahead of Wanganeen-Milera, with more experience, finals appearances, and accolades. He has played alongside some of the best players in the league and made three preliminary finals. If he joins the Western Bulldogs or Geelong, he will be expected to lead successful eras, whereas Wanganeen-Milera is tasked with leading St Kilda out of a difficult period.
This makes Sunday night’s match between “the Engine” (Butters) and “the Architect” (Wanganeen-Milera) a compelling watch. It underscores the risks clubs take when investing heavily in players to compete. Their performances could spark discussions about player value and whether paying a player $2 million annually excludes a team from premiership contention, as AFL legend Luke Hodge suggests.
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