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Player Watch Ivan Soldo

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RussellEbertHandball said:
Knee injuries are always bad news and an ACL rupture the worst.

I suspect that 1 of the 2 places on the list that can be filled by adding a player in the SSP time frame, will now be a ruckman. Its just stupid going into the season with 2 healthy uninjured ruckman.

Not sure if we can put Soldo on the Long Term Injury list now, and take 3 players in the SSP or we can only take a 3rd player in the mid season draft.

Magpies should also go sign a 200-205cm player from a community club as extra depth. Maybe some of those young South Sudanese giants who play a bit of footy and lots of basketball.
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3 places on the list now assuming Soldo goes straight onto the LTI..
 

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A part of me doesn't even really believe it. If there was any player who you would want to put on the long term injury list, it would be Ivan....and well, here we are. Funny how things pan out.

All the best to you and the Missus Ivan.
 
Matthew Lobbe is still at the club right? Absolutely must pick him up as an SSP and give him a chance at redemption
 
powermacs said:
Someone check in with old mate to see what centrals ruck stocks are like pls.
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if we want to have fun bring in Harry Boyd ...

Norwood supporters would melt :D
Cow supporters would melt :D
Rowie would go into shock and blow a blood vessel :D
KG, and Cornes (x 3) would melt :D

and we would be rolling around the ground laughing - LOL

The top 5 SANFL Ruckmen

1) Olivier Northam (South Adelaide)
2) Finn Heard (Norwood)
3) Harry Boyd (Norwood)
4) Amos Doyle (Sturt)
5) Jordan Lukac (Woodville-West Torrens)
 
Could we entice Oscar McInerny out of retirement? He's not that old for ruckman, just 31 years and 7 months. He could teach our guys a lot and could carry the rucks if needed.
 
Traveling_Power said:
if we want to have fun bring in Harry Boyd ...

Norwood supporters would melt :D
....
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Stealing Harry Boyd after we stole Phil Carey would be too much for any Norwood supporter to bear.
 

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Rucks not picked up in the 2025 draft - might be worth a look to replace Soldo

might be the best choices
Isaac Waller 204cm ruck (2025 - lions academy)
Waller, whose sheer frame and reach make him difficult to beat. He prides himself on his aerial impact, exhibiting his strong ruck craft and the ability to clunk contested marks. The towering, tall attacks the ball with vigour overhead, putting his body on the line to crash packs or stand up in them if it means he can come away with the grab.

Marcus Kransnadamskis 201cm ruck (Vic Metro) - ex basketballer
a real 'diamonds in the rough' sort of draft, Marcus Krasnadamskis has emerged as a rising ruck star. The 201cm basketball convert put a potential college career behind him to make the permanent switch to footy.
With such little exposure to the footballing pathway, he has shown plenty to suggest he'll be among the crop's best rucks - should he continue to develop so rapidly. He's a terrific athlete and proved as much at the state draft combine with several top 10 finishes, including for his 2.887-second 20m sprint.


next
Sam Ainsworth - 198cm ruck / defender (Norwood)
what makes Ainsworth such an effective key position player is his competitiveness. His background as an intercept defender meant he was always accustomed to leaping in packs and he maintained that trait as a ruck-forward. Ainsworth has also proven his ability to impact outside the aerial realm. His follow-up work is completed with great energy and aggression, helping keep the big man engaged in the play past his initial efforts.
Ainsworth's production is quite strong as a result. He averaged 16.2 disposals, 4.6 clearances, and 20.9 hitouts per his nine SANFL Under 18. Not many players can lay claim to being an All-Australian outside of their primary post, and Ainsworth's willingness to play in every key position post affords him a priceless amount of versatility.

Taj Murray - 201cm ruck / forward (north)
Murray's aerial work is what often catches the eye first. He possesses a spring-heeled vertical leap and measured up with the longest reach of any player at the National Draft Combine. Combined, those attributes help him access the ball first at centre bounces or in marking contests.
Murray's mobility is evident and helps him not only get separation on the lead but also impact once the ball hits the deck. He's quick off the mark and highly dextrous below his knees, while also being agile enough to cut through traffic like a much smaller player. His follow-up work is still developing, but he is capable of becoming a fourth midfielder while rucking and competes hard to lay wrap-up tackles.


Zac Harding - 199cm ruck (Vic country)
A mobile ruckman with an excellent vertical jump and natural speed, Harding uses those assets to become something of an extra midfielder. Harding finished runner-up in the Murray Bushrangers’ best and fairest award after averaging 18.5 disposals, 2.6 marks and 28 hitouts. He was also very impressive playing for Victoria Country at the National Championships, averaging 14.5 disposals, 3.8 tackles and 24 hitouts. Harding went on to make his VFL debut for Carlton throughout the season, before producing eye-catching results in the 20m sprint (2.98 seconds) and running vertical jump (86cm) at the state Draft Combine in Melbourne
 

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Feels like if Soldo's role was a depth ready to go ruck and we want to replace like for like, there is no point picking up an 18 yo ruck to replace him. They'll offer less at AFL level than just running games with Wines, and we always have the MSD as an option if Sweet + Dante do both go down.

Either YOLO in to the season with 2 rucks or go and get an experienced ruck.
 
Traveling_Power said:
Rucks not picked up in the 2025 draft - might be worth a look to replace Soldo

might be the best choices
Isaac Waller 204cm ruck (2025 - lions academy)
Waller, whose sheer frame and reach make him difficult to beat. He prides himself on his aerial impact, exhibiting his strong ruck craft and the ability to clunk contested marks. The towering, tall attacks the ball with vigour overhead, putting his body on the line to crash packs or stand up in them if it means he can come away with the grab.

Marcus Kransnadamskis 201cm ruck (Vic Metro) - ex basketballer
a real 'diamonds in the rough' sort of draft, Marcus Krasnadamskis has emerged as a rising ruck star. The 201cm basketball convert put a potential college career behind him to make the permanent switch to footy.
With such little exposure to the footballing pathway, he has shown plenty to suggest he'll be among the crop's best rucks - should he continue to develop so rapidly. He's a terrific athlete and proved as much at the state draft combine with several top 10 finishes, including for his 2.887-second 20m sprint.


next
Sam Ainsworth - 198cm ruck / defender (Norwood)
what makes Ainsworth such an effective key position player is his competitiveness. His background as an intercept defender meant he was always accustomed to leaping in packs and he maintained that trait as a ruck-forward. Ainsworth has also proven his ability to impact outside the aerial realm. His follow-up work is completed with great energy and aggression, helping keep the big man engaged in the play past his initial efforts.
Ainsworth's production is quite strong as a result. He averaged 16.2 disposals, 4.6 clearances, and 20.9 hitouts per his nine SANFL Under 18. Not many players can lay claim to being an All-Australian outside of their primary post, and Ainsworth's willingness to play in every key position post affords him a priceless amount of versatility.

Taj Murray - 201cm ruck / forward (north)
Murray's aerial work is what often catches the eye first. He possesses a spring-heeled vertical leap and measured up with the longest reach of any player at the National Draft Combine. Combined, those attributes help him access the ball first at centre bounces or in marking contests.
Murray's mobility is evident and helps him not only get separation on the lead but also impact once the ball hits the deck. He's quick off the mark and highly dextrous below his knees, while also being agile enough to cut through traffic like a much smaller player. His follow-up work is still developing, but he is capable of becoming a fourth midfielder while rucking and competes hard to lay wrap-up tackles.


Zac Harding - 199cm ruck (Vic country)
A mobile ruckman with an excellent vertical jump and natural speed, Harding uses those assets to become something of an extra midfielder. Harding finished runner-up in the Murray Bushrangers’ best and fairest award after averaging 18.5 disposals, 2.6 marks and 28 hitouts. He was also very impressive playing for Victoria Country at the National Championships, averaging 14.5 disposals, 3.8 tackles and 24 hitouts. Harding went on to make his VFL debut for Carlton throughout the season, before producing eye-catching results in the 20m sprint (2.98 seconds) and running vertical jump (86cm) at the state Draft Combine in Melbourne
Click to expand...
I would prefer this to a veteran SANFL ruckmen but it would have to be someone they were looking at. I'd love a more mobile, around the ground ruck that can take a mark.

Surely Carr or Surjan would be in the know with Taj Murray.
 
Disappointing for Soldo to have his career ended by a serious knee injury but at the risk of sounding too harsh it would have required a dramatic improvement in last season's form for him to be considered for AFL games in 2026 unless both Sweet and Visentini were unavailable.

The timing of his injury may even be a blessing in disguise, and if the club chooses wisely there could be a young developing ruckman out there with more long term upside than a bloke who at times didn't appear to be enjoying his time at Alberton (or life in the city of Adelaide), and was highly unlikely to be offered another contract at the end of this season anyway.
 

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