Ivan Maric
Encyclopedia
Ivan Maric is an Australian rules football
player of Croatian descent in the Australian Football League
(AFL) and was the number 20 of the Adelaide Crows Football Club
. He currently plays for the Richmond Football Club
.
because of his frustration with the technical aspects of the game. However Maric was talked into playing on and was drafted by the Crows with pick 40 in the 2004 AFL Draft
only months later. Maric was assigned to the Port Adelaide Magpies
in the SANFL where he quickly became the number one ruckman
in 2005.
continued in early 2006 and he was rewarded with his AFL
debut in round six of 2006 in the Showdown
against Port Adelaide
. He had seven disposals and kicked 1 goal on debut. Maric was a last minute inclusion in the side and had the difficult task of playing 2 matches within 24 hours because he had already played for the Port Adelaide Magpies
the day before. Maric played a total of eight matches in 2006 and averaged 6 disposals and 9 hit-outs a game.
line up in 2007 because of the departure
of Matthew Clarke and the unavailability of Rhett Biglands
. However a hip injury meant that he missed the early parts of the season. While he was injured Jonathon Griffin
cemented his place in the Adelaide Crows
line up meaning Maric had to return to the Port Adelaide Magpies
after recovering from his hip injury. Maric played seven consecutive games for the Magpies before getting his chance in the Adelaide line up for the round 14 match against Hawthorn
. He had eight disposals and kicked two goals. In the round 19 clash with the Geelong Football Club
Maric was promoted to the number 1 ruckman in the absence of Ben Hudson
who missed the clash because of a club suspension
. He was then dropped for the round 20 clash with the Western Bulldogs
as John Meesen
was given his AFL
debut.
, John Meesen to Melbourne
and the preseason loss of Rhett Biglands
to a serious knee injury for the second consecutive, and ultimately his last, season, Maric was expected to be a certain starter. However, similarly to the previous season, a preseason injury of his own left Maric behind fellow inexperienced ruckmen Griffin and Kurt Tippett
. With the Crows opting to develop Tippett as a permanent forward and Griffin sustaining a hip injury midway through the season, Maric was finally given another first team opportunity, and seized it with both hands. He played out the rest of the season in ruck tandems with Tippett and Brad Moran
, occasionally rotating forward to kick vital goals, cementing his spot as the new number one ruck with a series of good and excellent performances.
as Maric's partner in the ruck. By this stage, Maric had established himself as Adelaide's clear number one ruckman.
and Shaun McKernan
as back-up to Jacobs. At the season's end it was reported Maric was keen to leave the Crows, with strong interest from Richmond
. He was traded to Richmond in the 2011 Trade Week period, with Adelaide accepting Richmond's second-round pick (no. 37) for him, which was then subsequently on-traded to St. Kilda for Tom Lynch.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player of Croatian descent in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL) and was the number 20 of the Adelaide Crows Football Club
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
. He currently plays for the Richmond Football Club
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
.
Early career
A late starter to the game, Maric didn't play competitive football until he was 16 because of a blossoming basketball career. Maric nearly quit in his second season with the Calder CannonsCalder Cannons
The Calder Cannons are an Australian rules football club from Melbourne, Australia.The club competes in the TAC Cup and fields squads in the U15, 16 and most importantly the U18s. The club was formed in 1995 after the need for two more metropolitan clubs...
because of his frustration with the technical aspects of the game. However Maric was talked into playing on and was drafted by the Crows with pick 40 in the 2004 AFL Draft
2004 AFL Draft
The 2004 AFL Draft, concerning player acquisitions in the 2004/05 Australian Football League off-season, consisted of a trade period, a national draft, a pre-season draft, and the elevation of rookies...
only months later. Maric was assigned to the Port Adelaide Magpies
Port Adelaide Magpies
The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
in the SANFL where he quickly became the number one ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
in 2005.
2006
Maric's impressive form with the Port Adelaide MagpiesPort Adelaide Magpies
The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
continued in early 2006 and he was rewarded with his AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
debut in round six of 2006 in the Showdown
Showdown (AFL)
The Showdown is a term used to refer to the derby match between local rivals the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide in the sport of Australian rules football in the Australian Football League .-Background:...
against Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
. He had seven disposals and kicked 1 goal on debut. Maric was a last minute inclusion in the side and had the difficult task of playing 2 matches within 24 hours because he had already played for the Port Adelaide Magpies
Port Adelaide Magpies
The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
the day before. Maric played a total of eight matches in 2006 and averaged 6 disposals and 9 hit-outs a game.
2007
Maric was expected to become a regular in the Adelaide CrowsAdelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
line up in 2007 because of the departure
Departure
Departure may refer to:Aviation* A "departure" from controlled flight* Taxiing and takeoffNavigationIn navigation, departure is the distance made good in an east––west direction when going from one place to another ....
of Matthew Clarke and the unavailability of Rhett Biglands
Rhett Biglands
Rhett Biglands is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.-Career:He made his debut as an 18 year old in the SANFL with Woodville West Torrens kicking 5 goals in his first match....
. However a hip injury meant that he missed the early parts of the season. While he was injured Jonathon Griffin
Jonathon Griffin
Jonathon Griffin is a part Indigenous Australian rules footballer who played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League and the Central District Bulldogs in the South Australian National Football League...
cemented his place in the Adelaide Crows
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
line up meaning Maric had to return to the Port Adelaide Magpies
Port Adelaide Magpies
The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
after recovering from his hip injury. Maric played seven consecutive games for the Magpies before getting his chance in the Adelaide line up for the round 14 match against Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
. He had eight disposals and kicked two goals. In the round 19 clash with the Geelong Football Club
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
Maric was promoted to the number 1 ruckman in the absence of Ben Hudson
Ben Hudson
Ben Hudson is an Australian rules footballer who played 143 games for the Adelaide Crows and Western Bulldogs and currently plays for the Brisbane Lions.-Early life:...
who missed the clash because of a club suspension
Suspension (punishment)
Suspension is a form of punishment that people receive for violating rules and regulations.- Workplace :Suspension is a common practice in the workplace for being in violation of an organization's policy...
. He was then dropped for the round 20 clash with the Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
as John Meesen
John Meesen
John Meesen is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Melbourne Football Club and Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League . Drafted with the 8th selection in the 2004 Draft, Meesen had a long wait to play his first senior game for the Adelaide Crows...
was given his AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
debut.
2008
With the departure of number one ruckman Ben Hudson to the Western BulldogsWestern Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
, John Meesen to Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
and the preseason loss of Rhett Biglands
Rhett Biglands
Rhett Biglands is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.-Career:He made his debut as an 18 year old in the SANFL with Woodville West Torrens kicking 5 goals in his first match....
to a serious knee injury for the second consecutive, and ultimately his last, season, Maric was expected to be a certain starter. However, similarly to the previous season, a preseason injury of his own left Maric behind fellow inexperienced ruckmen Griffin and Kurt Tippett
Kurt Tippett
Kurt Tippett is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. He currently plays for the Adelaide Crows and wears the number 4 on the back of his jumper. He has represented his state at under 18 level in basketball before converting to Australian rules football and playing for...
. With the Crows opting to develop Tippett as a permanent forward and Griffin sustaining a hip injury midway through the season, Maric was finally given another first team opportunity, and seized it with both hands. He played out the rest of the season in ruck tandems with Tippett and Brad Moran
Brad Moran (footballer)
Bradley "Brad" Moran is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.-Early life:...
, occasionally rotating forward to kick vital goals, cementing his spot as the new number one ruck with a series of good and excellent performances.
2009
Maric began the 2009 season in a four-way struggle with Griffin, Moran and Tippett for two ruck places. Eventually, however, a similar routine developed to the previous season, with Maric and Moran rotating in the ruck and Tippett playing as a more or less permanent forward, while Griffin again fell to the wayside. Injuries to Griffin and Moran led to the inclusion of James SellarJames Sellar
James Sellar is an Australian rules footballer. He was selected in the 2006 AFL Draft by the Adelaide Football Club at No. 14 overall, considered a bargain pick at the time considering he was touted as a potential top-5 pick. Sellar was educated at Brighton Secondary School along with other AFL...
as Maric's partner in the ruck. By this stage, Maric had established himself as Adelaide's clear number one ruckman.
2011
The combination of the new interchange rules and the arrival of Sam Jacobs at the Crows saw Maric given limited opportunities. Maric played just six games for the season as Jacobs took over the no. 1 rucking spot while the club preferred to use forwards Kurt TippettKurt Tippett
Kurt Tippett is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. He currently plays for the Adelaide Crows and wears the number 4 on the back of his jumper. He has represented his state at under 18 level in basketball before converting to Australian rules football and playing for...
and Shaun McKernan
Shaun McKernan
Shaun McKernan is an Australian rules football player for the Adelaide Football Club.He was Adelaide’s second selection in the 2008 National Draft, taken at pick 28, and recorded strong results at the 2007 NAB AFL Draft Camp ranking second for the standing vertical leap behind number 2 draft pick...
as back-up to Jacobs. At the season's end it was reported Maric was keen to leave the Crows, with strong interest from Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
. He was traded to Richmond in the 2011 Trade Week period, with Adelaide accepting Richmond's second-round pick (no. 37) for him, which was then subsequently on-traded to St. Kilda for Tom Lynch.