St Kilda has decided to withdraw from pursuing Port Adelaide's ruckman Ivan Soldo, ending speculation over a potential three-year deal for the former Richmond player.
Channel 9 chief reporter Tom Morris shared the breaking news, noting that while Soldo did not fail a medical assessment, St Kilda opted against proceeding due to concerns regarding his knee injury history.
The Saints' decision comes as they take a cautious approach following previous list issues with players affected by injury, and it is understood that Port Adelaide's preference was always to retain Soldo, who is contracted with the club until 2026.
Although Soldo had initially requested a move back to Victoria, and was previously said to have regretted his move to Port Adelaide from the beginning, the 28-year-old is reportedly content to remain with the club under his current contract, expiring in 2026.
The decision from St Kilda comes amid the Saints' ongoing search for ruck depth to support Rowan Marshall, following Tom Campbell's departure.
Soldo, who was restricted to only eight games in the 2024 season due to injury and competition from fellow recruit Jordon Sweet, found his playing time limited, prompting his initial trade request.
St Kilda's general manager of football, David Misson, previously acknowledged that while the Saints had “preliminary discussions” regarding Soldo, the club was considering multiple options to address its ruck needs.
With the decision now finalised, the Saints will redirect their focus toward alternative options within the draft or other trade prospects as they work to build a strong midfield support system around their lead ruckman Marshall.
