Monday brought a mixed bag of news across the Australian Football League, with a devastating ACL injury to Port Adelaide’s Ivan Soldo overshadowing positive updates regarding Collingwood’s Nick Daicos. Elsewhere, injury concerns continue to linger for St Kilda’s Max King and Adelaide’s Sid Draper, while contract talks surrounding Essendon’s Zach Merrett are gaining momentum.
Soldo’s Season Ends Before It Begins
Port Adelaide’s season suffered a significant blow with the confirmation that ruckman Ivan Soldo will miss the entirety of the 2026 campaign after sustaining an ACL injury during a training drill. This marks the second time Soldo has suffered the same injury, previously injuring his left knee in 2020. Head of medical services Tim O’Leary expressed the club’s disappointment, noting Soldo’s professionalism and dedication. “It’s such unfortunate news for Ivan,” O’Leary said. “He 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.”
Soldo, who joined the Power at the end of 2023 after a stint with Richmond, has played 66 AFL games, including nine for Port Adelaide. The injury comes at a particularly challenging time for the 29-year-old, who is out of contract at the season’s end.
Daicos All Clear for AFL Origin
Collingwood received a welcome boost with confirmation that superstar Nick Daicos’ heavily strapped left calf was a precautionary measure ahead of Saturday’s AFL Origin match. Initial concerns arose when Daicos appeared at Magpies HQ with significant strapping, prompting speculation about his fitness. However, reports indicate the strapping was to protect a graze on his calf, and he is expected to participate in the State of Origin clash against Western Australia. Fox Sports News’ Drew Jones reported the strapping was simply to protect a graze.
Daicos has enjoyed a strong pre-season and is set to represent Victoria in the highly anticipated match. The news provides a lift for Collingwood, who have already navigated a lengthy injury list this pre-season, including Darcy Moore, Jeremy Howe, Dan McStay, and Beau McCreery. Bobby Hill remains on personal leave.
King’s Return Delayed Again
St Kilda’s hopes of a swift return for key forward Max King have been dashed once again, with the club confirming he will miss an additional two to three weeks due to a low-grade calf injury. This setback is particularly frustrating for King, whose 2025 season was severely impacted by persistent knee troubles. He had recently reintegrated into main training after spending much of the summer in the rehab group.
“Max has put together a solid block of work this pre-season and it is disappointing for him to face this setback albeit on the lower end of the scale,” EGM Football Lenny Hayes said. “However, we remain optimistic and will do everything we can to support Max and have him back in full training as soon as possible.”
King’s absence adds to the Saints’ challenges as they prepare for their Round 1 clash against Collingwood at the MCG on March 8. Notably, King was one of 58 players earning over $1 million last year, a testament to his value despite recent injury woes.
Adelaide’s Draper Suffers Setback
Adelaide’s pre-season injury concerns have deepened with a potential re-aggravation of a groin injury for young midfielder Sid Draper. Draper limped off the training track on Monday, raising fears of a setback after previously being disrupted by the same issue. This adds to a growing list of injury concerns for the Crows, which already includes Mark Keane (broken leg) and Dan Curtin (dislocated knee).
Merrett Contract Talks Progressing
Essendon’s contract negotiations with star midfielder Zach Merrett are progressing, with preliminary talks having begun in December and continuing into February. Despite previous discontent and a failed attempt to move to Hawthorn last October, Merrett appears open to remaining a Bomber. He recently switched back to his original manager, Nick Gieschen, signaling a potential shift in his approach to negotiations.
AFL Media’s Cal Twomey reported that Essendon is now considering what a potential contract extension could look like. Merrett, a five-time Crichton medallist, averaged 27.8 disposals per game last season and remains a key figure for the club. The outcome of these talks will be closely watched as Essendon looks to secure the future of one of its most consistent performers.
