Ivan Soldo

Soldo spent his formative years in the Australian capital city of Canberra. He attended Daramalan College and completed his studies in 2013. A promising junior basketballer, Soldo represented the ACT in national tournaments at the under-16 and under-18 levels.

To July 2014 he had never played Australian rules football at a club level, only learning to kick in a social context.

After a trial with Richmond in May 2014, he was signed as a category-B rookie in July. Soldo was introduced to club officials the previous Christmas as a future prospect by cousin and Richmond ruck Ivan Maric. As part of the category-B arrangements under which he was signed, Soldo was allowed to train and play with TAC Cup side the Northern Knights before joining Richmond's 2015 pre-season training. Soldo played his first Australian rules football match in late July 2014, with the Northern Knights and against the Gippsland Power in Morwell. He was officially drafted in December with the club's fifth selection and the 68th selection overall in the 2015 Rookie Draft.

He did not play a match at senior level in his first two years at the club, instead learning his craft with Richmond's reserves side in the VFL. He played eight games at VFL level in 2015 before playing 15 (and averaging 19.9 hit-outs) in the 2016 season.

Soldo was elevated to the Richmond senior list in May 2017, a potential replacement for suspended ruck Toby Nankervis. He made his AFL debut in Round 7 2017, in a match against the reigning premier Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium He recorded nine disposals and three marks in the match, along with setting a league record for debutants with 42 hitouts. He was omitted from the senior side the following week but returned in Round 9 to play the GWS Giants in Sydney. Playing as a back-up ruck to Nankervis, he managed just six hit-outs and five disposals before again being dropped from the team the following week. After six weeks of playing at reserves level Soldo was recalled to the AFL side to play Brisbane in Round 17. He played as the club's lead ruck, with the more mobile Nankervis moved into the role of centre half forward. Soldo kicked his first career goal in round 20 against Hawthorn at the MCG. Following five straight matches at senior level he was again dropped from the side ahead of round 22's match-up with Fremantle.

Statistics are correct to the end of round 21, 2017