Maric set to join RichmondBy Kim Hagdorn
Sports News First
9 September 2011 04:18PM ESTRICHMOND is poised to complete luring Ivan Maric away from Adelaide and return to his home state to restart his stalled AFL career.
Maric, 25, has been targeted by the Tigers as a potential late-maturing big man and solve glaring deficiencies around stoppages in joining clearance forces with exciting young on-ballers Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin.
Maric is expected to seek a trade from the Crows after finishing 2011 and his sixth season on the Crows list behind preferred lead ruckman Sam Jacobs.
The Crows also opted for rising key forwards Kurt Tippett and Shaun McKernan at times for brief stints on the ball in support of Jacobs, ahead of more regular ruck chances for Maric.
Tigers management have identified an imported ruck force along with another powerful defender as priority recruiting targets ahead of next season after finishing 12th with eight wins and a draw.
Maric has played 77 Crows games since his debut early into 2006, but made only six appearances this season.
The 200cm and 102kg former Calder Canons ruckman played three games to launch the season and then only Rounds 19-21 to average 11 possessions and outing around 12 hitouts a game.
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick has identified needs for more aggression and brute force in the stoppages to generate passage for the classy Martin and Cotchin to continue an upward surge toward possible finals next season and beyond.
Maric is considered by Tigers recruiters as an emerging ruckman who could reach his peak of potential in the next few seasons, similar to the late confirmation of capabilities that escalated Melbourne big man Mark Jamar into All-Australian selection at 27 last year.
http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2011/09/09/maric-set-to-join-richmond/
