St Kilda is poised to make significant waves in the AFL landscape with its strategic signings, particularly with the anticipated arrival of Carlton ruckman Tom De Koning in free agency. Should this deal come to fruition, St Kilda will feature the two highest-paid players in the league by 2026.
Recently, the club announced that emerging talent Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has committed to a two-year contract reportedly valued at $2 million per season. Concurrently, De Koning is expected to receive a lucrative deal estimated at $1.7 million annually.
If both contracts materialise, approximately 20% of St Kilda’s salary cap of $18.29 million will be allocated to these two players. Additionally, with defender Leek Aleer rumoured to join the club on around $800,000 per season, that figure rises to 25%, leaving the remaining budget for around 41 players to share the rest.
St Kilda’s management has long been positioning itself to secure high-profile talent, having previously offered GWS midfielder Finn Callaghan a contract resembling De Koning’s at the start of the season. The club’s sights have also been set on other big names like Jacob Weitering and Zach Merrett.
Retaining Wanganeen-Milera is particularly noteworthy, as he reportedly declined a substantial offer from Port Adelaide, which would have seen him earn $30 million over 12 years — an average of about $2.5 million per season. St Kilda’s successful retention of him for the next two seasons surprised many, including Essendon great Matthew Lloyd, who noted that signing for only two years seems risky given Wanganeen-Milera’s current form.
Lloyd highlighted concerns regarding shorter contracts, citing past examples where players’ performances diminished before the end of lengthy deals. However, he posited that by opting for a two-year commitment, Wanganeen-Milera is backing his potential and may have the freedom to explore other opportunities thereafter.
As Wanganeen-Milera’s contract runs until the end of the 2027 season, he may also find himself on the radar of the Tasmanian team, which will enter the competition soon. Meanwhile, St Kilda must navigate ongoing contract discussions with promising midfielder Marcus Windhager, who has attracted interest from other clubs.
Intriguingly, reports of discontent within the playing group over the high-profile contracts surfaced last week, indicating some senior players were questioning the list management strategies. This came just before the news of Wanganeen-Milera’s re-signing.
As St Kilda heads into its final match of the season against GWS on a four-game winning streak, the club appears to be carrying substantial momentum into 2026, aiming to capitalise on these key movements within its roster.