Adelaide midfielder Jake Soligo says a one-match stint with the Club’s SANFL team proved the catalyst for his renewed confidence at AFL level. 

The 23-year-old had an interrupted start to his fifth season as a Crow, with pre-season heart surgery limiting his summer training program, before an ankle injury against Carlton in Round Five resulted in him coming out of the team. 

Upon his return from injury, the decision was made for Soligo to play in the SANFL team, where he gathered 40 disposals and two goals in what was a confidence boosting performance. 

Speaking to the media on Monday, Soligo explained how his experience in the reserves had helped him recapture some of his best form. 

“I feel like I'm hopefully getting back to my best and finding good form now, which is nice,” Soligo said. 

“It wasn't tough (to go back down to the SANFL), for me it was more of a confidence thing, and also coming back from an ankle injury, I wasn't expecting to come straight back in. 

“We've obviously got quality guys that can stand up, like Charlie Edwards and all those boys. So I was just really happy to see him excel, and to go back and to play some SANFL footy, get the confidence up and try and get the fitness up too.

“To go and just find the footy and play alongside those boys, it was a lot of fun and really good for me, and I feel it’s helped get my game back to the level I want it to be at.” 

Soligo produced one of his strongest performances on Thursday night, with his 22 disposals and five tackles proving pivotal to the Crows’ one-point victory. 

“I do like a bit of wet conditions, but as a team I thought we played really well, and our skipper stood up, and all the boys played their roles, so it was nice to get the win on a Thursday night,” Soligo said. 

“Obviously it gives us a bit of confidence going into this Thursday night against the Bulldogs, especially in those close ones we were probably not winning a couple of years ago. 

“So to get over the line against a quality side in Geelong, I think we're pretty happy and take a bit of confidence from it.” 

Adelaide takes on the Western Bulldogs this Thursday night at Marvel Stadium, with the first bounce at 7pm (ACST).