Port Adelaide's towering ruckman Ivan Soldo has received devastating news, with his AFL season for 2026 ending before it could even begin. The cult figure among fans ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a training incident, prompting the club to confirm on Monday that he will be sidelined for the entire upcoming campaign.
A Crushing Blow for the Premiership Player
This injury represents a crushing blow for the 2019 premiership player, who is now in a fierce battle to keep his AFL career alive. Soldo made the move from Richmond to Port Adelaide ahead of the 2024 season, but has since found himself trailing Jordon Sweet in the Power's ruck pecking order. Sweet featured prominently in 19 games last year, while Soldo managed just a single appearance, making this setback even more significant.
Club Support and Rehabilitation Focus
Port Adelaide expressed their solidarity with the injured player on social media, stating, "We're all with you, Ivan." The club's head of medical services, Tim O'Leary, elaborated on the situation, highlighting Soldo's professionalism and the support he will receive.
"It's such unfortunate news for Ivan," O'Leary said. "He is such a professional and hardworking athlete, so we are really disappointed for him, and we will support him to get through this next stage."
This is not the first time Soldo has faced such a challenge. He sustained the same injury to his left knee back in 2020, which caused him to miss the entire 2021 season as he underwent recovery. O'Leary noted that this prior experience means Soldo "certainly knows what it takes to attack his rehab and return to the top level."
Historical Context and Future Implications
The 2020 incident involved a rupture of both his ACL and medial ligament in his left knee, occurring midway through that season. The lengthy rehabilitation process that followed saw him absent from the field for an extended period, and now history has repeated itself with this latest training mishap.
As the football community absorbs this news, attention turns to how Port Adelaide will adjust their ruck strategy without Soldo, and whether this injury could impact his long-term future in the league. More updates are expected as the club and player navigate the recovery journey ahead.
