Snap Shot: Soldo has a good header for a ruckmanPeter Ryan
The Age
27 Aug 2019Soldo was not a footballer when identified as a potential recruit after his cousin Ivan Maric showed a photo of him to a member of the Tigers' recruiting staff.
He grew up in Canberra playing basketball and dabbling in soccer. His Croatian heritage and the fact his cousin (who is also the Tigers' ruck coach) is heavily involved in the St Albans Saints Dinamo Soccer Club meant the round-ball code helped shape his sporting outlook.
On Sunday he again crossed codes mid-game when he attempted to head a boundary throw-in as he and Lions ruckman Stefan Martin struggled to win a hit-out at the MCG.
It's also worth noting that his soccer skills came in handy against Melbourne in round 20 when Soldo showed he was a natural-born striker as he kicked a boundary throw-in straight out of the air and through the goals off his left foot, as the throw-in fell slightly short and he managed to get the jump on the Demons' Braydon Preuss.
While Soldo is not quite Luka Modric yet, if he can help the Tigers to their second flag in three seasons he will be almost as popular in these parts as the Croatian soccer champion.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/afl/snap-shot-soldo-has-a-good-header-for-a-ruckman-20190827-p52l1w.html