Soldo’s move away from TigerlandRichmond ruckman Ivan Soldo remains a key part of Port Adelaide’s trade plans despite the Tigers continuing to hold firm in their desire to keep the contracted premiership player.
The Power have conceded a deal on Soldo could be difficult to reach.
Soldo, 27, featured in only eight senior games for Richmond this year after battling injury through the first half of the season.
He has a desire to become a No. 1 ruck, but has played second-fiddle to captain Toby Nankervis at the Tigers in recent years.
“Richmond have been pretty steadfast since the start of the period that they didn’t want to lose him,” Port Adelaide football boss Chris Davies said.
“That makes things much harder when a player is under contract. But Ivan is in a situation where he wants to take hold of his career. He wants to be a No. 1 ruck somewhere.
“It’s probably time, if he is going to become a number one ruck at a club. It’s unlikely going to be at Richmond in the short term. So he wants to leave Richmond, but equally we know that they hold a whip hand in the sense that he’s a contracted player.”
Port Adelaide is hoping to secure Soldo for a second-round pick in either this year or next year’s draft.
“It doesn’t really matter what draft picks you’ve got you know unless Richmond are willing to let him go to this point that hasn’t been the case despite the fact that you know he’s wanted to leave,” Davies said on Trade Radio.
“We want to get these deals done and we’re going to have to work through that.”
https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/afl-trade-period-follow-all-the-latest-news-and-deals-from-day-seven-of-the-exchange-period/news-story/aa101ccce8a50183495193b09a0e5b81
