{"id":488785,"date":"2026-02-18T22:24:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T22:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/488785\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T22:24:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T22:24:13","slug":"afl-premiership-winner-ivan-soldo-shares-update-from-hospital-with-career-under-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/488785\/","title":{"rendered":"AFL premiership winner Ivan Soldo shares update from hospital with career under threat"},"content":{"rendered":"

Port Adelaide<\/a> veteran Ivan Soldo is looking on the bright side with his AFL<\/a> career under threat following a season-ending knee injury.<\/p>\n

The big man, a 2019 premiership player with Richmond, underwent surgery this week after rupturing his left ACL at training.<\/p>\n

It was a crushing blow after playing just one senior game last year \u2014 while he is also out of contract at the end of this season.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for all the love and support,\u201d Soldo wrote from hospital.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously devastated but it\u2019s all part of it, forever grateful for the people around me though.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recently retired Port star Willie Rioli commented wishing for a speedy recovery, with Soldo also grateful for a similar message from Carlton great Anthony Koutoufides.<\/p>\n

Soldo previously tore the ACL in his right knee in the penultimate round of the 2020 season, robbing him of playing in the Tigers\u2019 run to a second straight premiership.<\/p>\n

He joined Port ahead of the 2024 season but never secured a regular place in coach Ken Hinkley\u2019s side over the past two years.<\/p>\n

Soldo, who turns 30 in April, would have hoped for a fresh start under new coach Josh Carr but now faces an uncertain future.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s such unfortunate news for Ivan,\u201d Port head of medical services Tim O\u2019Leary said last week.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIvan sustained the same injury in his left knee in 2020, so he certainly knows what it takes to attack his rehab and return to the top level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soldo was linked to a trade to St Kilda at the end of 2024 but the Victorian club cooled on the idea due to reported sensitivities around his knee history.<\/p>\n

At the time, reporter Tom Morris said Soldo didn\u2019t fail a medical test, as such, but the Saints decided to \u201cplay it safe following past list decisions with injured players\u201d.<\/p>\n

It was widely thought Soldo was happy to move back to Victoria at the end of last season as well but interest from rival clubs was lukewarm.<\/p>\n

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