Is it the moustache? Or simply Ivan Soldo's towering frame?
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The Canberra export is used to seeing eyes wander towards him as he walks down a Melbourne street.
![Ivan Soldo is bracing for the biggest game of his career in a preliminary final at a packed MCG. Picture: Getty Ivan Soldo is bracing for the biggest game of his career in a preliminary final at a packed MCG. Picture: Getty](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/36vwtM5n3dmMVgNPycRBEHz/0215722f-2a00-431c-b2a8-77c1b0f7b3fd.jpg/r0_162_4864_2907_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Today there can be little doubt as to why football-mad folk are drawn to this 23-year-old project player.
For now the Richmond Tigers ruckman is on the cusp of playing in the biggest game of his career - a preliminary final against the Geelong Cats at a heaving MCG on Friday night.
"The outside noise made me a bit more aware of how important this game is to people and how much the fans really enjoy it. When you're in the middle you can't not feel it a bit," Soldo said.
"I'm starting to see a bit more colour in the streets, people are messaging me more, there are more people at the captain's run. You start to notice these things which is exciting more so than nerve-wracking.
"We get to play at home this time so I'm excited. I'm pretty excited. Geelong are not too far away from their home, so it will be an all-Victoria clash. It will be pretty cool to be a part of that."
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Soldo is hardly one to be daunted by the big stage - the whirlwind nature of his career has barely given him time to think too much about it.
A qualifying final at the Gabba a fortnight ago, during which the Tigers disposed of the Brisbane Lions in dominant fashion, was a timely audition.
"I'd never played at the Gabba before. It was a week ago now and I have moved on already, but it was a pretty cool experience standing there for the national anthem," Soldo said.
"It is just another game, and like in any other game you want to play well and win."
Just like Soldo has done for the bulk of a short 20-game career - 15 of which have ended with those in yellow and black bellowing the word "Tigerland".
![Toby Nankervis (l) and Ivan Soldo are confident of delivering a good ruck combination for Richmond. Toby Nankervis (l) and Ivan Soldo are confident of delivering a good ruck combination for Richmond.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/192897fe-8da0-425c-b70e-57dc2369115f.jpg/r0_11_800_461_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
But rarely has his role been so important as the back end of this season with leading ruckman Toby Nankervis watching on from afar.
Nankervis missed 11 games with an adductor injury which left Soldo, Mabior Chol and Noah Balta to fill the void in the ruck during his absence.
Now the veteran is back - and Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is looking to the Nankervis-Soldo duo to add an extra string to his side's bow in a grand final qualifier.
"We worked pretty well together [against Brisbane]. We probably played an even share amount of game time, which probably helped him build confidence in me as well," Soldo said.
"Over the past couple of years it has just been on him with a chip-in ruckman, so it's good to finally have some like Toby back in the team.
![Canberran Ivan Soldo with cousin Ivan Maric, after the former basketballer signed as a rookie with Richmond. Canberran Ivan Soldo with cousin Ivan Maric, after the former basketballer signed as a rookie with Richmond.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/11edad79-25be-4780-a756-6fec67fa6b10.jpg/r0_69_353_332_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"It gives me confidence that I can work with him, more than just support him."
Richmond enter a clash with the minor premiers riding a 10-game winning streak - two wins to close out the season and secure another premiership would equal the biggest run in club history.
They have made seemingly light work of the GWS Giants and the Collingwood Magpies - the two sides jostling for a place in the decider on the other side of the draw - throughout that stretch.
Richmond's VFL side is bracing for a grand final appearance this weekend while the club's rehabilitation room is rarely occupied by anyone but Alex Rance, Jack Higgins and Sydney Stack.
There can be little doubt the club is hitting its straps at the right time - but as a young man that still isn't sure if he is in the side on a week-to-week basis, Soldo is refusing to rest on his laurels.
![Ivan Soldo is determined to make an impact against the Cats. Ivan Soldo is determined to make an impact against the Cats.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/ec15fc2b-a0ff-4a0f-9683-01b150ae1065.jpg/r0_101_800_551_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"You just feel it out there when the team is clicking. It's a pretty cool feeling and I'm pretty happy to have been a part of it," Soldo said.
"It's good to feel all the boys going so well at the moment, but every game is different. There are times in the game when momentum swings and things can happen.
"From the outside looking in, it might look [like we're doing it easy], but there is a lot of hard work going into it to get to this point.
"It was good to get the week off, and you want to take advantage of them because they don't come around too often, especially when you earn it. I feel pretty fresh, everyone feels great."