The manager of St Kilda defender Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has swiftly denied claims that the rising star has ruled out a potential trade to Adelaide because of veteran forward Taylor Walker’s infamous racism incident.
In 2021, Walker’s season was ended prematurely when he was suspended for six matches after being found to have racially abused Indigenous SANFL player Robbie Young during a match.
Walker made the racial comment to a Crows SANFL player, and it was overheard by an Adelaide official who reported it to the AFL.
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Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in action for the Saints. Getty
Walker was also fined $20,000 and required to undertake an education program, as well as conciliation.
South Australian-born Wanganeen-Milera is now at the centre of a bidding war between the Crows and the Power, as well as his current club.
But on Monday night, veteran journalist Caroline Wilson told Seven’s The Agenda Setters that Wanganeen-Milera is against a move to the Crows, with Walker’s historic racism incident cited as a reason.
“One of the reasons he won’t be going to the Adelaide Football Club is that he has concerns about an incident that happened back in 2021, a famous incident involving Taylor Walker and Robbie Young,” she said.
“Wanganeen-Milera has asked, clarified, that Matthew Nicks was the coach at the time, and has indicated that he doesn’t want to go to the Adelaide Football Club.
“For a variety of reasons, but specifically Wanganeen-Milera’s issues with Taylor Walker and what happened back then, the view from Port Adelaide and others in the footy community is that if he does leave, he’ll be going to Port Adelaide.”
However, barely an hour after Wilson’s report was posted to Seven’s social media accounts, Wanganeen-Milera’s manager Ben Williams directly refuted the claims through a statement to 9News Adelaide reporter Corey Norris.
In the statement, Williams clarified that no decisions had been made regarding Wanganeen-Milera’s future and that any speculation is inaccurate.
“Reports made in the media suggesting that Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has ruled out joining the Adelaide Crows due to comments made by Taylor Walker in 2021 are false,” Norris wrote on X in a quote attributed to Williams.
“Nasiah is currently considering his future, and at this stage, no decisions have been made, and any speculation suggesting otherwise is inaccurate.”
Walker on Tuesday responded to the claims made by Wilson.
“I was made aware of [the reports] last night. I know Ben Williams, so I picked the phone up and called him straight away just to seek understanding and clarification,” Walker told Triple M.
“Pretty much exactly what you just read out [Williams’ statement released last night], he elaborated to me as well.
“I don’t really have anything further to say.”
