Some legendary AFL names will continue to be prominent at some of the code's biggest clubs after the drafting of two teenage sensations this week.
St Kilda has picked up Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, son of Terry Milera and nephew of Gavin Wanganeen, while Peter Burgoyne's son Jase will link up with Port Power.
Since he could hold and kick a football, all Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera wanted to do was make his AFL dream a reality.
The 18-year-old Narungga and Kokatha player, who was drafted to the Saints at pick No. 11 on Wednesday night, hails’ from some of the best football pedigree in South Australia.
His father Terry played 30 games for the club between 2012-2014, while his uncle Gavin is a Brownlow medallist and five-time All-Australian who played for Port and Essendon.
“It’s pretty special to be able to be in a position that Dad once was,” Wanganeen-Milera told NITV News.
“Growing up, when I was playing in the forward lines, I always used to watch Dad and then I would try to do the same thing as him.
“Hopefully I can continue to follow in his footsteps and then create my own path as well.”
Football experts have said Wanganeen-Milera has the best kick in the year’s draft class, while also possessing an amazing ability to stay composed and evasive under pressure.
A young Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in a St Kilda shirt (left) taken around the same time his father, Terry Milera played for the Saints between 2012-2014. Source: Supplied/Getty Images
“I think I’m pretty composed with the footy, being able to step in and out of traffic and get myself clear of players and into space where I can use my kicking to find a target and help create play for the team,” he said.
“I grew up playing footy all my life, just kicking the ball around with Uncle Gavin (Wanganeen) and Tex (Gavin's son).
“Me and Tex used to play one-on-one all the time, you know, marks up and growing up from little kids with him."
So far, Wanganeen-Milera has already made a name for himself among the young talent across the country.
From representing South Australia at the state level, he was also selected to play in the NAB AFL Academy this year against the Geelong VFL side, alongside his “brother-boy” Jase Burgoyne, who was also taken in this year’s draft at pick no. 60 for Port Adelaide Power.
“I was at his house yesterday (Thursday) watching it with him and to share that experience with him being able to play AFL with him is a dream come true for both of us and we could potentially line up against each other one day," he said.
Isaiah Dudley, Blayne O'Loughlin, Jase Burgoyne and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera playing for South Australia against Western Australia in Perth last year. Source: Supplied
“Being able to share that with some of the brothers like Jase Burgoyne, Blayne O’Loughlin and then being able to play in the state game as well.
“We all played together, as well as Isiah Dudley."
Another Burgoyne joins Port Adelaide
Kokatha, Mirning and Warai player, Jase Burgoyne was a father-son selection, with his dual premiership player father, Peter Burgoyne racking up 240 AFL games for Port Adelaide between 1997 and 2009, also earning him a spot in the Indigenous Team of the Century.
Meanwhile, his uncle Shaun Burgoyne currently holds the record for most games played by an Indigenous player, with 407 games spanning across a career of 20 years, where he won four AFL premierships, including two with his brother Peter.
Much like his father, Jase is a smooth-moving defender with a natural ability for accumulating the football at a high rate and being able to make good decisions by hand and foot.
Shaun and Peter Burgoyne of Port Power celebrate after winning the 2004 AFL Grand Final against the Brisbane Lions. Source: (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)
“At the moment I’m probably a backman," said Jase.
“I want to build my body up and hopefully I can break into that midfield rotation in a couple of years.
“But, probably the wing, half-back at the moment are the positions I’m most likely suited to."
Growing up watching his father and uncle play at Port Adelaide, Jase said he always wanted to do the same.
“My dad (Peter) and uncle (Shaun) played here so it’s pretty surreal, it doesn’t feel real, I don’t think it’s kicked in yet," said Burgoyne.
“I grew up supporting Port."
Jase's older brother, Trent had previously been drafted by Port Adelaide in the 2019 NAB AFL Rookie Draft but was delisted by the club last month.
Jase Burgoyne of South Australia in action during the NAB AFL U19 Championships game between Western Australia and South Australia, Perth 2021. Source: (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Jase and his father Peter said they had discussed it as a family on whether Port was the right choice for Jase following his brother's departure.
"Growing up, the goal was to play at Port with Trent," said Jase.
"Obviously it didn't work out and me and him have talked about it.
"At the end of the day, he's (Trent) happy for me and I'm stoked to be on an AFL list."
His father Peter has praised Jase's talent, saying he showed skills possessed by himself in his younger days and his brother Shaun.
"At the moment, Jase is still young, he's pretty raw," said Peter.
"I think he's going to be a bit between me and Shaun (as a player).
"He can play down forward, down back and in the midfield."
Peter said his advice to his son was that he could not take "any shortcuts" when it comes to playing professional football, and hoped the coaching staff which also included his brother, Shaun, would help develop Jase into an AFL player.
"(Jase) You're in the big league now, if you take shortcuts, well then, they'll show you the door straight-away," he said.
"Pretty much, if you want to play AFL, you gotta be a fitness fanatic.
"You gotta cross all the T's and dot all the I's and if you don't do that, you get found out pretty quick and the senior players will pull you into line because that's what it was like when I was here."
