Ivan Soldo | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Ivan Soldo

Sorry. For mine, he's just not a good enough footballer. This really shows in tough, high pressure games where he cannot exert anywhere near enough influence ... because he just doesn't have the speed (even for a big man), the skills in terms of leap, good hands, agility, ability to read the play. Full credit to him for making it this far - a flag player. But, overall, his main attribute is his size, which has enabled him to achieve what he has. But size alone is not enough!

For a 204 cm ruckman to take but ONE MARK tonight (not even sure it was overhead) when we really needed him to step up and really assert himself as a forward and around the ground, says it all. In fact, I'm quite amazed how easily he is knocked aside or is out of position for overhead contests; he simply does not have much athleticism at all and also poor balance. Not surprisingly then, not even one goal assist. His hands are ordinary and his reflexes are far too slow so e.g. cannot get a quick HB away, nor have enough speed to apply much tackling or chase pressure. A witches hat often.

Unfortunately, he's just not the answer. Someone like Chol actually was ... because great skills for a 200cm tall, amazing agility and spring, able to take a hanger in attack or a strong defensive mark, plus a superb kick and ball user. Equal top goal-scorer at GCS this year on 20 - same as JR8. Many knocked Cholly for his ruck-work, but he sported over 10kgs to most of the ruck monsters so it was never his main game. But he was IMO the perfect foil and chop-out for Nank as he was quite useful in general play and dangerous up forward. Such a pity we had to lose him.

Big Ivan is very likely a great team-man and bloke, but unfortunately, ... as I said at the outset. (Just compare with the potential shown by the two De Koning boys. I'm afraid you need to invest a decent draft pick to obtain the real high quality tall rucks).
 
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Soldo is fine. He's just not a key forward.
And he's not a no.1 ruck either - Nank is way ahead as an all-round player whom applies far more pressure in and after the first ruck contest and gets around the ground better (close to best in the AFL this season). So where is Soldo's strength actually? Some improvement but still far from a great tap/palming ruckman either. Many taps still go to opponents.
 
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And he's not a no.1 ruck either - Nank is way ahead as an all-round player whom applies far more pressure in and after the first ruck contest and gets around the ground better (close to best in the AFL this season). So where is Soldo's strength actually? Some improvement but still far from a great tap/palming ruckman either. Many taps still go to opponents.
He's good at centre bounces. He's fairly good at getting back for intercept marks. And he's good for semi regularly snagging a goal or two. He's been playing well of late. He just shouldn't be playing as a key forward in the place of Tom Lynch.
 
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He's good at centre bounces. He's fairly good at getting back for intercept marks. And he's good for semi regularly snagging a goal or two. He's been playing well of late. He just shouldn't be playing as a key forward in the place of Tom Lynch.
He has some acceptable games but I have to stand by my previous post. The problem is we have not recruited/drafted any KPFs so Soldo has to be the spare since GCS made Chol an offer we just could not match. Balta was the alternative chop-out ruck, and he is quite a force as 2nd ruck because of his all-round football ability - the opposite of big Ivan. [Gibcus may become the KPF replacement for JR8 but needs to add some kgs of muscle first which means may not be ready for a couple of years].

Trouble is that we really need him (NB) to play down back because we have no other replacement for our KPD since Alex the Great bailed on us.
 
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I'm quite bearish on Soldo in 2022.

But when was Nankervis an aerialist anywhere on the ground? Defence? Offence? Wing? CB!

Did you see the Nank joke spoil on Hayward? What?

Soldo is only played to cover Nank's aerial weaknesses. Not say we shouldn't rest/drop Soldo.
 
At 210 odd cm’s he needs to be better at judging ball flight.

Too often finds himself under the ball
 
At 210 odd cm’s he needs to be better at judging ball flight.

Too often finds himself under the ball
He took the game up late. He has done really well. But he will never impact enough to justify a spot - unless Nank is out
 
where’s carter? No 1 ruck?

FFS he is a liability this year. Shocking tonight.
 
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