Maric tipped to join Tigers Zac Milbank
From: The Advertiser
September 08, 2011 ADELAIDE ruckman Ivan Maric appears destined to join Richmond.
The out-of-contract Victorian - currently in Melbourne mulling over multiple offers with his manager Peter Lenton - is set to be lured by greater opportunity at Tigerland.
While Lenton insists the Crows remain in the running, Maric - now entrenched behind Sam Jacobs in the pecking order at West Lakes - will almost certainly select the chance to be the lead ruckman at Punt Road.
"There has been interest (from other clubs)," Lenton confirmed.
"And there's interest from Adelaide who are keen to retain him and have put an offer to him.
"We just thought it was best to weigh everything up when the footy season was done and to see what he thinks is best for him from an opportunity point of view.
"That's where he would go - to a club which can give him an opportunity - so we'll go through a process and let the club (Adelaide) know exactly where we sit from there," Lenton said.
Maric has already informed his SANFL club Port Magpies he won't be playing finals despite logging enough games to qualify.
The 198cm giant can't afford to get injured in the next month before AFL trade week begins on October 10.
Adelaide operations manager Phil Harper said the club would endeavour to work a deal with the Tigers, to ensure it was compensated for the loss of the 25-year-old.
"We're keen for him to stay but he's weighing up all options before he makes a call - we understand that," Harper said.
"We know we've got a good player and we know we've got a champion person. If we lose him we'll be disappointed but we'll be understanding as well."
"If he wants to go to another club we'd go down that (trade) line."
Lenton - who also didn't rule out the Power being a potential suitor - said Maric was determined to become a regular player after managing just six games in 2011.
"That's what he's found, that it's a little bit more challenging," said Lenton in reference to the introduction of the AFL's substitute rule.
"And obviously the club got in Sam Jacobs this year and he's taken that (number one) mantle and done a really good job.
"Where Ivan sits now within the structure ... he's probably more so insurance to the club. If there's an injury that comes through then they can call upon him."
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/maric-tipped-to-join-tigers/story-e6frecj3-1226131770676
