All Richmond Tigers' Ivan Soldo wants for Christmas is a return to contact training

Soldo was relieved to have a new three-year contract in his hip pocket after an irritating 12 months recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

He was thankful for the faith the Tigers had shown in him, as well as for allowing the Canberran to get away from the AFL pressure cooker throughout the year to freshen up.

Not only did he have his initial knee reconstruction last year, but he needed two more operations on his medial ligament during his recovery.

It meant he missed the entire 2021 season after initially injuring his knee in round 17 last year.

But he had some good news on Friday, with Richmond announcing he'll be at the club until at least the end of 2024.

"It's good the club has confidence in me moving forward. It's pretty exciting for me and gives me some security," Soldo said.

MORE CANBERRA SPORT

Soldo wasn't worrying about round one next year yet. His only focus was on getting ready for a return to contact training.

He's on holidays at the moment, but will return for pre-season about three or four weeks before Christmas for a training block.

"I just need to start getting into some contact drills and getting some confidence in it, but it is a slow, gruelling process I've been told," Soldo said.

"It'll be late November-early December [when we return]. We'll have a catch-up block, about three to four weeks, and then we'll have a Christmas break."

With the two setbacks with his knee, Soldo said he learnt a lot about himself.

He was especially thankful the Tigers let him get away from the constant grind of his rehabilitation.

It allowed him to return to Canberra to catch up with family and friends - while also continuing his recovery.

He didn't think he'd watch the AFL grand final, but was considering getting along to the NRL one at Lang Park.

"I learnt a lot about myself. I'm quite resilient I think, but this is probably the toughest period I've had to go through," Soldo said.

"I've had a lot of people supporting me throughout the year and a half.

"The club's been the best. They've given me the opportunity to go away throughout the year even though COVID was making interstate travel stop-start.

"But they were actually pretty good, letting me get away and clear my head."

Soldo was unsure who would take over the Tigers captaincy from Trent Cotchin, who stepped down from the role at the end of the season.

Richmond star Dustin Martin has been linked as one possibility, after Cotchin's club-record 188 AFL games in the role - guiding the club to three premierships.

Big boots to fill.

Cotchin's the only captain Soldo's had at Richmond, but he was confident whoever took over would handle it well - especially since they'll still have Cotchin to call on as a mentor.

He kinda knows what he's doing.

"I'm not too sure to be honest. Trent's been so good for so long," Soldo said.

"There's a role to fill, but whoever gets chosen next will have full support.

"I've only had him as my captain. He'll always be there as well - he's not going to disappear, he just won't be [the captain]."