Inside the Moorabbin gymnasium between a workout session on Thursday afternoon, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera took hold of the room.
When the South Australian spoke up, the polished swingman had his St Kilda teammates momentarily on edge.
The club gave Wanganeen-Milera the honour of announcing his Saints teammate, Isaac Keeler, was set to run out for the first time onto an AFL arena.
The two Kokatha mates and distant cousins grew up in the West Coast region of South Australia, before they took hold of their first shot towards fame around Port Augusta's footy ovals until briefly going their separate ways.
Wanganeen-Milera, two years older than Keeler, headed to SANFL club Glenelg while Keeler would later venture to rivals North Adelaide before reuniting via the AFL draft.
"I watched this bloke from a young teenager, I grew up with him for a bit," Wanganeen-Miler told St Kilda players and supporters online, "and effort over the last two years, and I am proud to announce that Isaac Keeler will be making his debut".
Every one of the club's playing group put down their weights or jumped off exercise bikes and treadmills, swarming to hug, backslap and, notably, fly over the top of Keeler to tap the tall utility on the head.
West Australian Indigenous teammates, Liam Henry and Lance Collard, were the first Saints to embrace Keeler before the pile-on crashed down over the pack.
Collard also had good reason to celebrate, having been included in the final line-up for the first time this year and fourth overall after debuting in Round 1 against Geelong last year.
But the 2022 No.44 draft pick's wait has been even longer.
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Keeler's selection for Saturday night's match against the Cats at Docklands comes after more than two full seasons since arriving at the club 844 days ago.
The man, who has been compared to retired Saint Paddy Ryder and readily admitted to emulating Charlie Curnow when the National Indigenous Times first spoke to Keeler in December 2022, said his game style was essentially about being agile and versatile.
"I am pretty big on my athleticism – I really (like) having a run and jump at the ball, and taking marks at the highest point," Keeler once said.
"I also think it's about my goal sense, when I'm down forward and creating goals for other players off the ball and setting them up."
The 20-year-old has progressed his development first around half forward, before pinch hitting in the ruck and more recently along the half back line.
Standing at almost two metres tall, Keeler displayed his potential in the club's official intra-club match, as arguably the star on the day in the defensive key post, suggesting the Kokatha and Wirangu man could be the clear answer to replacing former Saint and new Hawthorn defender, Josh Battle, at centre half-back.
St Kilda general manager of football, David Misson, said the club was excited to watch Keeler in his first AFL outing.
"We congratulate Isaac on earning selection and look forward to welcoming his friends and family along on Saturday to see his life-long dream realised," Misson said.
"Isaac is a much-loved member of our playing group and we can't wait to see what he can do with his opportunity on Saturday."
Keeler is the fourth debutant for the Saints this season following an injury-prone start to the year for the club.
