Richmond have signed former basketballer Ivan Soldo as an experimental rookie.
Richmond has signed 18-year-old former state basketballer Ivan Soldo as an experimental rookie.
Soldo, cousin of Tigers ruckman Ivan Maric, won the spot as rookie after impressing during a trial earlier this year.
The 204cm, 106kg giant has been granted permission to play out the rest of the 2014 season with TAC Cup side Northern Knights, before officially becoming a Richmond rookie in 2015.
Soldo, originally from Canberra, represented the ACT in basketball at under-16 and under-18 national level, before making the switch to Australian rules football.
“Ivan is very raw, and will be a long-term project, but he has all the attributes of an AFL player and we look forward to seeing what he can bring to the group,” said Richmond general manager of football, Dan Richardson.
“He has shown a great capacity and willingness to learn, and he has really thrown himself into training.
“Being able to gain some valuable playing experience in the TAC Cup will only fast-track his development, before he can join in a full pre-season with Richmond.
“Being able to go to Ivan Maric for advice has also helped introduce him to the weekly demands of AFL footy.”
Welcome Ivan to the club, Ivan’s cousin Ivan is joining the club as a Category B rookie http://t.co/zNMJtJzKwb pic.twitter.com/OdIRqyvaa2
— Richmond (@Richmond_FC) July 24, 2014
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