- Kane Cornes doubles down on Ivan Soldo
- Insists ruckman always looking for ‘easy way out’
Polarizing football commentator Kane Cornes has fired back at Port Adelaide ruckman Ivan Soldo, doubling down on his criticism as the pair’s war of words continues to escalate.
Soldo, 28, was probed by St Kilda during the AFL draft period, which ended on Wednesday.
That will have been music to the ears of his partner Chelsea Becirevic, who had previously said Adelaide had “been a struggle for me” and that she could not see herself living there permanently.
The influencer, who had followed Soldo from Richmond to the Power, even left Adelaide without her partner to work for an airline in Dubai.
The move fell through, however, as the Saints backed out of the deal, abandoning the big man.
Soldo, who did not attend the club’s best and fairest awards ceremony, was also criticized by AFL greats Nathan Buckley and Kane Cornes for ‘character’ issues following the saga.
On Wednesday morning, Soldo fired back at Cornes for his comments – and now the Port Adelaide star has returned.
“The criticism is that we want the easy way out every time,” Cornes clarified on Nine’s Footy Furnace.
Kane Cornes has taken a swipe at Port Adelaide ruckman Ivan Soldo for always ‘wanting the easy way out’
Ivan Soldo (pictured with girlfriend Chelsea Becirevic) has stated he has no plans to leave Port Adelaide
‘He wanted the easy way out at Richmond to break a contract because he wasn’t the number one ruckman.
“He went to Port Adelaide because he thought he was going to be the number one ruckman. He quickly realized that wasn’t the case, so then he wants to break another contract and take the easy way out and demand a trade from a club that didn’t agree to the trade.”
Soldo declared he has ‘no intention of leaving Port Adelaide’ as he clapped back at commentators who condemned his absence from the club’s best and fairest awards.
“I’m honestly fed up with this ridiculous story that just won’t stop circulating,” he posted on Instagram.
“Let’s clear some things up: the ONLY reason I didn’t attend PAFC in the best and fairest way possible was because I was the best man on the same night as my best friend’s wedding. In which the club fully supported me to attend. If that reflects poorly on my character, then our Kane values clearly don’t match.
“As far as trading goes, this happens every year and it’s just unrelated to the work. I still have a contract with Port and have no intention of leaving.
Ivan Soldo (pictured) hitting back at critics and trolls who attack his partner online
‘The bullying and hatred towards my partner must also stop, this backwards story is getting old.’
Soldo’s statement came as Power boss Chris Davies told AFL Trade Radio the player had been cleared to attend the wedding and would likely remain in Port Adelaide.
“I don’t think Ivan has settled in Adelaide the way he would have liked and perhaps the way we would have liked, and we have a role to play in that,” Davies said.
‘We have to try to help him settle into the city a bit more and if that doesn’t work we will probably be in this situation again next year.
“Unless something happens today he will come back to our club and fight for a ruck spot.
“I think he’ll probably stay.”
It now appears Soldo will serve out the remainder of his contract at Port Adelaide, which expires in 2026.