Coaching move of the year: David King’s early 2026 call

SEN’s David King has highlighted what he thinks may turn out being the coaching move of the year.

While the move has obviously not been made yet, King foresees St Kilda coach Ross Lyon using Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in a different fashion in 2026.

After dominating in 2025 as a half-back who spends time on-ball, King sees the young Saint splitting his time between the middle and full forward in 2026, much as he did in his match-winning performance against Melbourne last season where he kicked four goals to go with 34 touches.

Having spent just six per cent of his game time inside 50 last season, King can see that jumping significantly this season, reaping the Saints and Lyon some huge rewards.

“I’ve got one for you that I want you to watch out for,” King said on SEN Breakfast.

“I think there's an early look at what I think could be move of the year. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera from the goal square. Instead of going behind the footy, it's playing on-ball/full forward.

“He spent six per cent of his time last year in the forward line. It's an average of about six minutes a game.

“His effectiveness down there was evident obviously in that one game (against Melbourne), but I think Ross is exploring this through the pre-season period, and I think it could be a boom.

“This guy is clearly charging towards the top bracket of the competition. He kicked 17 goals last year playing largely from midfield/half-back. I think he has (35 in him).”

Having shown glimpses of his forward craft already, King says track watchers have told him Wanganeen-Milera has dazzled up forward this summer, filling footy’s best expert with plenty of confidence.

“My man Pete from AFL ratings, he doesn’t miss a thing… he tells me that he's probably one of the most natural forwards you've seen move into the footy,” King added.

“It’s the timing of his leads and his ability to win the ball.

“I think this could be an early look for one of the coaching magnet moves of the year.”

Wanganeen-Milera and the Saints begin their season with an Opening Round clash against the Magpies at the MCG on March 8.