Talent on tapInside Football
Feb 22, 2012The Tigers hope Ivan Maric can restore them as a rucking powerhouse, writes NATHAN TEMPLETON. FOR a quarter of a century, dating back to the days of Mark "the General" Lee, Richmond has searched without luck for a quality long-term ruckman.
Somewhat ironically, the Tigers have now turned to Ivan Maric, in many ways a throwback to the 1980s, to break the drought.
When the former Adelaide Crow made his debut in yellow and black on Friday night, Twitter feeds lit up with fans commenting on (and mostly praising) Maric's "mullet" hairstyle. And the 200cm, 100kg giant also aims to play like an old-fashioned follower.
"I love playing aggressive," Maric said.
"They want me to be physical and block for the smaller guys and I love doing that."
That will be music to the ears of Richmond's supporters, and its star-studded young midfield.
"Doing all those sacrificial acts helps to build a strong bond with all the midfielders. I'm happy for them get all the possessions," he said.
"I've got some quality players to hit the ball to, it's pretty exciting in there with guys like Cotchin, Martin, Foley and Tuck."
After playing only six AFL matches in 2011, Maric became disillusioned with the Crows, and Richmond came to the party, giving up draft pick 37 to bring the Victorian home.
"It was a hard decision, but the way the season panned out made it easier," he said.
"Geelong won the premiership with two ruckmen but Neil Craig didn't believe in playing too many talls. That's fine, that was his philosophy, but it was hard because I thought there was room for two ruckmen.
"I just tried to look at the positives. I played a lot up forward with (SANFL club) Port Magpies, and I improved that part of my game and learnt a lot about myself."
Angus Graham had been the first-choice ruckman at Punt Road for the past two seasons, with support from developing 200cm forward Ty Vickery.
The club also had promising youngsters Andrew Browne, Tom Derickx and Ben Griffiths in the wings, but decided it needed some heavy-duty reinforcements.
"Richmond got in touch with my manager halfway through the year," Maric said.
"I was keen to come back to Melbourne and I could see how much the club changed when (coach Damien) Hardwick took over, you could notice it even from the outside.
"I wanted to come to a club where I could make an impact. I want to set high standards and be a mentor. I said as soon as I arrived I want to earn everything, don't hand it to me."
No-one knows better the importance of a strong big-man combination than Richmond's ruck coach Brendon Lade, who formed a formidable partnership with former Port captain Matthew Primus, and later teamed with Dean Brogan to help the Power to the 2004 premiership.
Lade believes Maric can provide much-needed grunt for the Tigers.
"The big thing about Ivan is his competitiveness, he just hates to lose," Lade said.
"He wasn't really getting a game with the Crows and we thought that was a bit of a waste. We think he can play an important role for us."
Lade says Maric's arrival has also had a positive effect on Graham, and the club finally has some competition for ruck spots.
"He (Graham) needed that second bloke to push him, they've been fighting it out at training," Lade said.
"I think Angus has all the traits to be one of the great ruckmen in the AFL, he's a good size and he runs really well so I'm looking forward to seeing his development.
"We also have Andrew Browne, who we hold in high regard."
But 21-year-old Vickery is the man who looms as the X-factor in the Tigers' set-up.
"He's got a lot of upside but we're waiting for him to grow into his body so he'll probably stay up forward, but in the next few years he will become a really crucial player," Lade said.
Maric has also been impressed with Vickery.
"I can't wait to see how good he's going to get," Maric said.
"For a guy that tall, the way he moves is really exciting. He is really dangerous up forward and if he can play ruck and forward he's going to be really great for the club."
Maric is hoping to follow Vickery's lead and add attacking skills to his repertoire.
"I want to be someone who takes a lot of marks. I want to be remembered for that at the end of my career," Maric said.
"I feel really comfortable playing up forward."
The son of Croatian parents, Maric grew up a basketball fanatic in the Melbourne suburb Keilor, and didn't start playing Australian rules until he was 16.
Now the 26-year-old believes he's in his prime.
"Now is the time for me to become a consistent AFL player," he said.
"I've had enough time and if I can't do that now, if I'm not playing well enough then I just won't get a game. It's a bit of pressure but I'm embracing it. It's nothing I can't do, I've got belief in myself."
Tiger fans will be happy to learn he also has belief in the "mullet", at least for now.
"While I can still grow it, I'll just enjoy it, I think."
http://www.insidefootballonline.com/feature.html
