AFL: Port Adelaide track watch – Ivan Soldo on his move from Richmond, Mitch Georgiades takes key step in ACL recovery

Two Port Adelaide players have taken important steps in their build-up to the season – Ivan Soldo returning to rucking and Mitch Georgiades involved with the main group.

Ruck recruit Ivan Soldo says opportunity and a fresh start drew him to Port Adelaide.

Soldo played 57 games across eight seasons for Richmond before being traded to the Power in October in a swap of multiple picks.

While he mostly served as back-up to co-captain Toby Nankervis at the Tigers, the No. 1 mantle was there for the taking at Alberton after the club parted with Scott Lycett (retired).

Soldo, 27, will be competing with fellow recruit and ex-Western Bulldog Jordon Sweet, as well as third-year tall Dante Visentini.

The 2019 premiership player said he decided late in the season that he wanted to change clubs.

“Once Richmond knew we weren’t playing finals, the conversations started around how my future would look,” Soldo said.

“The management and myself decided a move to another club would be best for my opportunity.

“It was definitely a tough decision, it was the only club I’d ever really played for, coming from a category B rookie.

“I had a great conversation with Kenny (Power coach Ken Hinkley), we’d lost some coaches back at Richmond and I really wanted that fresh start.”

Richmond recruit Ivan Soldo, pictured earlier in the pre-season. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Soldo was rucking in match simulation for the first time this year on Wednesday as he continued his recovery from his second finger surgery since the end of the season.

He had an operation on his left hand’s little finger in December, needing to address complications from a previous procedure and got a tiny plate inserted.

Originally from Canberra, Soldo said he did not know anyone at Port Adelaide before arriving but had been told good things by his cousin, former Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric, who played SANFL for the Magpies.

“He was confident wherever I went I could play my best footy, but he just wanted me to be happy,” he said.

TRAINING NOTES

■ Forward Mitch Georgiades took a significant step in his comeback from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, joining the main group for the first time.

Wearing a pink no contact hat, Georgiades started the session doing his usual running along the sidelines before integrating into a ball movement drill.

Mitch Georgiades has taken another step in his comeback. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The 22-year-old, who missed most of last season after injuring his knee in the SANFL in April, then sat out the match simulation.

“I’ve done rehab for an ACL so I know what he’s going through,” Soldo said.

“It’s good to see him finally have a smile on his face out on the track because it can be a bit lonely on the outside.”

■ Spearhead Charlie Dixon did not take part due to an adductor issue, instead spending the session kicking and running on the sidelines. The 33-year-old will potentially be back involved in drills on Friday. Injuries have restricted Dixon to playing just 26 of the Power’s 47 games the past two years.

■ Josh Sinn featured in the first period of the match simulation, catching the eye a few times in his new role at half-back, before sitting out the rest of the game to manage him.

■ Match simulation featured mixed teams, rather than probables versus the rest. Tom Clurey returned to his usual role deep in defence, having been on a wing for the bulk of summer. Whether that changes again when trials come will be one to watch.

Originally published as AFL: Port Adelaide track watch – Ivan Soldo on his move from Richmond, Mitch Georgiades takes key step in ACL recovery