Soldo responds to Cornes’ “worst recruit in Port history” call

Port Adelaide’s Ivan Soldo has responded to criticism from Kane Cornes, saying “he can go for his life”.

Power great Cornes recently suggested that ruckman Soldo was the club’s “worst recruit in history”.

Richmond premiership player Soldo joined Port in the 2023 trade period in a deal which sent four later draft picks to the Tigers who exchanged a later pick themselves.

But Soldo has played just nine games in two seasons for the Power - one in 2025 - and attempted to leave the club after just one season, which led Cornes to his big call on the matter.

“Can I just say - and I’m prone to the odd big statement - Ivan Soldo has been the worst recruit in Port Adelaide history,” Cornes said on AFL Trade Radio during trade period.

“There has not been a worse recruit. I wouldn’t go anywhere near Ivan Soldo if I was a club looking for any sort of ruckman.

“You’ve got to factor in what he brings to the dressing room. I wouldn’t touch Ivan Soldo if you (co-host Sam Edmund) were rucking for me and I needed a ruckman.”

This week Soldo spoke to Channel 9 in Adelaide when launching his new clothing brand and responded to the criticism from Cornes.

“Putting people down and having his own opinion is his lane,” said Soldo.

“It doesn’t really affect me too much. I don’t know if it’s personal or not but he’s very opinionated and he gets a lot of clicks, so he can go for his life.”

Cornes, a 300-game Power great and club legend, insists his comments were not of a personal nature.

He says he was simply stating the facts.

“It’s not personal, it’s almost factual,” he said on SEN Breakfast on Friday morning.

“I’m really disappointed by what Port Adelaide gave up to get him and the output that has been there.

“I think if you ask Ivan to speak honestly about the put he’s put in to be the best player that he can be, I think he would even be honest in saying I probably haven’t given it my best.

“I was disappointed when after one year he tried to get out and the only reason he didn’t get out is because he failed a medical.

“It’s unfortunate that young players like (Jordon Sweet and) Dante Visentini have overlapped him as Port’s preferred ruck options when he was supposed to be the guy.

“So it’s nothing personal, it’s performance related.”

Cornes concluded: “He could have gone harder and it would have been fine if he did.”

It was understood that Soldo was again keen to leave Alberton this trade period despite having a contract until the end of 2026.

Soldo is intent on grabbing Port’s no.1 ruck mantle under new coach Josh Carr next season.