Ivan Maric closes in on AFL return after strong VFL showingBrent Diamond
The Age
16 April 2016Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric appears set to return against Melbourne next Sunday at the MCG after having a strong influence in the Tigers' upset 52-point win over Footscray at Punt Road Oval on Saturday.
Maric, in his second VFL match on return from a pre-season back injury, dominated in the ruck in the second half with his strength and agility to turn the match around after the Dogs led by as much as 26 points early on.
"The instructions were [for him] to play forward and to play ruck, so he's doing that and he had a big influence in the clearances when he went in there," Tigers VFL coach Craig McRae said.
"He had 11 disposals for the game but he certainly won a lot of clearances on the back of his effort.
"Today he played above the level," he said.
The former Crow played out the full match after being on limited game time last week against Williamstown.
Maric said he was desperate to return to the senior team for the Tigers, who appear derailed with a 1-3 record but he believes "it's not time to panic".
Tigers midfielder and pacesetter Brett Deledio is considered a chance to return through the VFL over the next fortnight.
McRae praised the work ethic of midfielder Anthony Miles, who rebounded after being omitted from the senior team.
"Anthony Miles worked his way into the game and ended up with 29 disposals. I think he ended up having 12 tackles and nine clearances. He's symbolic of the team a little bit," he said.
Liam McBean kicked five goals in a strong return to form.
"He started to come to the football," McRae said.
"In recent weeks, he hasn't been able to get to as many contests and today he decided he wanted to be the one to get the ball instead of waiting for it to come to him and he got rewarded with five goals."
McRae said the challenge for Adam Marcon, a mature-age recruit from Williamstown, will be "to play above the level and get ready for an opportunity to come" after 19 disposals in a more attacking role.
McRae praised Tigers' VFL star Tom Couch, the son of the late former Geelong champion Paul, for his resilience (27 disposals) after his father's passing earlier this year.
"I've known Tom for a long while and he's an amazing resilient person," McRae said.
"He's got great character. It's been a difficult time for him, but the way he's conducted himself. He's a personal trainer himself so he's keeping himself fit the best he can.
"He's been super for us in the first couple of games."
Journeyman Couch returned to the VFL this season after a stint in the Geelong Football League.
"He was keen to give it another crack. His body hasn't enabled him to do that in recent years. He got himself really fit and he had a really good pre-season and he's enjoying the output on the back of that," he said.
McRae has signalled that his team has focused more on success in the VFL this season – but acknowledges his teams' best on Saturday was on the back of the inclusion of some AFL experience.
"I've said this many times, our focus is to improve each day. And we got better from last week and we got better from the week before. We've got some experience in the team, which is helping this young list at the moment," he said.
Western Bulldogs forward Tory Dickson also made his return from a minor quad injury – and made an instant impression with a goal at the 25-minute mark of the first term.
Dickson was on limited game time, but got through the match unscathed.
Rebounding defender Josh Prudden wasn't so lucky after he suffered a knee injury and was sent off for scans after the match to determine the extent of the damage.
The Bulldogs trailed by just a goal at the main break with Mitch Honeychurch collecting 14 touches in the first half.
The Tigers ran away with the match in the second half, winning 17.10 (112) to 7.18 (60).
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/ivan-maric-closes-in-on-afl-return-after-strong-vfl-showing-20160416-go81f4.html
