St Kilda defender Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera got on the phone to Adelaide’s Taylor Walker to “clear the air” following bombshell reports earlier this week.
Leading AFL journalist Caroline Wilson reported on Channel 7 on Monday that the Saints young gun had no desire to sign with the Crows due to Walker’s historic racism incident several years ago.
Walker made a racial comment to a SANFL player, and it was overheard by an Adelaide official who reported it to the AFL.
EXCLUSIVE: Inside ‘angry’ Steve Smith’s famous 2015 Lord’s demolition job
READ MORE: Socceroos victory locks in World Cup spot
READ MORE: Blues enforcer’s scary warning to new Maroons skipper
Walker was fined $20,000 and required to undertake an education program, as well as conciliation.
Wanganeen-Milera is on the AFL market and being pursued by both South Australian clubs, while St Kilda is desperate to keep him.
Following Wilson’s bombshell allegation, Nine’s Tom Rehn says Wanganeen-Milera picked up the phone and called Walker.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in action for the Saints. Getty
“My understanding is Wanganeen-Milera has initiated that conversation, and has rung Tex and said ‘I want you to hear it from me, categorically, there is absolutely no issue with you’,” Rehn told FiveAA radio.
“I think the air has totally been cleared and it is totally fine between those two players.
“He is 22 years of age and has enormous maturity to get on the phone, get on the front foot and put that to bed.
“That is my understanding, that’s what has been told to me.”
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.”
