Ivan Maric Biography

Ivan Maric says he is ready to make the transition to full-time coaching after dipping his toes in the water with the Tigers' young ruck division in 2017.

Maric has completed the Next Coach Program, run by coaching veteran David Wheadon, which cemented his ambitions as a 13-season career draws to a close.

"For me it confirmed a lot of things. It confirmed my own beliefs where there was a bit of uncertainty, and then [it helped me] to just get organised with coaching and how I'm going to do certain aspects of it," Maric said.

"You're looking at other great coaches and what they did, and it's like 'that's how I think, that's how I feel and that's what I believe in'.

"That's been really good. Now it's all about getting a job and putting it into practice."

Ivan Maric says he will retire at the end of the season.

"I believe it's the right time and the right decision for the club and for me, and that makes me feel at peace and happy with the call," Maric said.

"I want to see out the year by preparing my absolute best, to give myself the chance to compete at my best for the team.

"I won't be pulling up short. I want to finish all the way to the finish line."

Forgotten Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric would be battling conflicting emotions this week as he jockeys for selection with cousin and potential debutant Ivan Soldo.

With No.1 ruckman Toby Nankervis suspended for this week's clash against the Western Bulldogs, the Tigers face a choice between project rookie Soldo and his 157-game mentor.

Given the amount of work Maric has put in to bring his 21-year-old cousin up to AFL standard, football manager Neil Balme said the club veteran would see the positives in whatever choice the match committee made.

"He's got some conflicting motivations I reckon, because he's doing a lot of work with our ruckmen, but particularly Soldo who he is quite close to," Balme said.

"He's still contributing enormously as a person and that's the sort of man that he is, but he would love to play seniors again, there's no doubt about that."

Harry Taylor has taken his first step towards a potential coaching career when his playing days are over, joining the 2017 intake of the Next Coach program.

Taylor will be joined in this year's course by Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric, North Melbourne forward Lindsay Thomas and Fremantle rookie Brady Grey.

"I'm hoping this more pointed coaching I'll be getting will help me in developing relationships, imparting knowledge and helping educate other people," Taylor said.

"The other reason is simple, if I do go into coaching down the track this will give me a good grounding and a head start to being the best coach I can become."

Ivan Maric will stay at Richmond in 2017 after signing a new one-year deal with the club.

"We've been in discussions with Ivan for a number of weeks, and we're really pleased he's staying with us in 2017," Richmond football talent manager Dan Richardson said.

"Ivan is a fierce competitor and gives his all in every training session and game he plays, and his teammates thrive off that."

Collingwood confirms its interest in talking to out-of-contract Tiger Ivan Maric, with coach Nathan Buckley open to recruiting mature-age players in the upcoming exchange period.

"Ivan is uncontracted at Richmond and we're interested in having a chat to him," Buckley told 3AW radio.

"We will talk to anyone that we think is going to help us be successful."

Ivan Maric is in serious doubt for Richmond's season opener against Carlton because of a back problem.

"We're not going to go into round one with any players who are unprepared or under any injury cloud," Tigers teammate Jack Riewoldt said.

"As much as we'd love to have Ivan ... it's a marathon, not a sprint, and we won't be risking any players in round one, just because it's round one and the start of the season."

Richmond has made two additions to its leadership group for 2016, with midfielder Trent Cotchin retained for his fourth year as captain.

Reigning club champion Alex Rance has been added to the five-man leadership group, along with small forward Shane Edwards.

Vice-captains Brett Deledio and Ivan Maric remain in official leadership roles, which are voted on by the players in consultation with the coaches, while defenders Steven Morris and Troy Chaplin have been omitted.

Ivan Maric will take on an expanded official leadership role with the Tigers in 2015 after being appointed as a joint Richmond vice-captain with Brett Deledio.

"It is a terrific reward for Ivan, and highlights the positive impact he has had on the club since arriving from Adelaide," Richmond football manager Dan Richardson said.

"Ivan, Brett and the other members of the leadership group will no doubt provide Trent (Cotchin) with terrific support in 2015."

Steven Morris has been promoted to Richmond's five-man leadership group for 2015.

Morris joins captain Trent Cotchin, Troy Chaplin, Ivan Maric and Brett Deledio in the group, with the retired Daniel Jackson making way.

"This group was decided upon by the players, and it is an acknowledgement of the important role they play in driving standards and communications between the playing group and the rest of the club," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.

"We are developing and driving leadership across our entire playing group."

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says the team will welcome back Ivan Maric this week.

"I think the mark of a player is you make people around you better and that's what Ivan does," Hardwick said.

"He instils belief in players and we've missed that over the course of his absence in the early parts of the year."

Ivan Maric is set to make his first appearance of the year in the VFL this weekend after a start to the season hampered by ankle setbacks.

Maric had surgery in February to remove bone spurs from his ankle and is confident he has overcome the complaint to play a part in the Tigers' finals push.

"I'm going to play about a half in the VFL on Saturday. It's been a bit of a wait but I'm really looking forward to it," Maric told Footy Classified.

"(There's been) probably a few (setbacks) because initially I thought it was going to be 6-8 weeks.

"I think that's got to do with my height and a bit more weight going through my joints. It hasn't been smooth sailing but that's life."

With Ivan Maric edging closer to a return from injury, Shaun Hampson is looking forward to finally combining with his fellow big man on the field for the Tigers.

"I was recruited to help the big fella out and I haven't played a game with him yet, so I'm looking forward to that," Hampson said.

"I've been looking forward to it all pre-season as well, but his body didn't quite permit it.

"I love the way he plays. I always hated playing against him, and I think I can really help him out in a positive way."

Ivan Maric signs a two-year contract extension to remain with Richmond.

"We're thrilled to have Ivan commit to the club for another two seasons," Tigers football manager Dan Richardson said.

"He has become an incredibly consistent and valued member of the playing group at Richmond, and has added strong leadership qualities, both on and off the field."

After being hampered by an ankle injury, Ivan Maric says he is determined to regain his status as No.1 ruckman for the Tigers but won't rush his return.

"When the game is on the line and there's a centre bounce there, I want to be in there," Maric said.

"That's what I want. I want to be that person the coach calls upon when the game's on the line.

"I don't want to come back in after not really having a pre-season and not be able to perform at my best."

Ivan Maric is expected to miss the first month of the season after undergoing surgery to repair his injured ankle.

"He's been able to train with it in the last couple of weeks, but he hasn't been 100 per cent comfortable," Richmond's elite performance manager Peter Burge said.

"It was a decision we had to make – does he play with it the whole year, or do we just get it done now and get him right?

"It's good to get that done now, and start moving into his rehab phase, and hopefully get him back on track soon."

Ivan Maric could be set for ankle surgery with the Tigers weighing up how to handle the injury that has dogged his pre-season.

"We just don't know at this stage. It's just one of those things; he might go in and it might be a small clean up, we're not too sure," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.

"We've got to assess how he goes. He's probably in the hands of the doctor at the moment.

"It's been a bit of a drawn out process so at some stage we've probably got to make a decision on which way we go."

Jack Riewoldt and Dylan Grimes are dropped from Richmond's 2014 leadership group to be headed by Trent Cotchin.

Brett Deledio is again vice-captain with ruckman Ivan Maric and 2013 best and fairest winner Dan Jackson also voted into the group.

Former Port Adelaide defender Troy Chaplin is the new addition in his second season as a Tiger.

"Given the improved maturity of the team, we believe a five-player leadership group is a sufficient representation of the playing list," Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said.

"We are proud of the way Trent embraced the captaincy in his first year, and we're confident he will continue to be a strong leader on and off the field, along with Brett as vice-captain."

Richmond forward line coach Brendon Lade says ruckman Ivan Maric is moving freely after having groin surgery in the off-season.

"He had a groin op towards the end of last year but he's been training fully for us," Lade said.

"It really helped, the operation. He's a big player for our team and we need him playing."

Ivan Maric says teammate and fellow ruckman Orren Stephenson should stay on at the Tigers next year.

"I expect him to be around next year. It would be great for our club," Maric said.

"I think he's been fantastic for our club's culture. He's such a good person, a good family man, and we're lucky to have him.

"He's a great competitor as well."

Ivan Maric will miss two games with groin soreness, an ailment the ruckman will have to manage for the rest of his career.

"The big thing for him is just getting his body right. It's going to be an ongoing issue throughout the remainder of his career," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.

"He's just got to manage his body. We've got to keep strengthening that core area. Every year around this time he probably needs a couple of weeks off to get the remainder of the year up and going."

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says Ivan Maric is fresher this year compared to the same time last year.

"He's probably the freshest he's been," Hardwick said.

"Last year towards the latter stages of the year he did get very tired because he had a huge burden to bear.

"This year it's been a bit of a slower build up for him but he's starting to hit some good form now which we're excited by."

Richmond has added Ivan Maric and Dylan Grimes to a leadership group that will be without former skipper Chris Newman.

"Both players fully deserve their inclusion in the leadership group, for the respect they have within the club and the way they conduct themselves, both on and off the field," Richmond's general manager of football Craig Cameron said.

"Dylan is an outstanding young leader and a fine example to the developing players on our list, and Ivan has made an enormous impact at the club in only 12 months."

Brenton Sanderson reveals he wanted Tigers ruckman Ivan Maric, who has been in dominant form, to stay at Adelaide.

"I sat down with him and I was really keen for him to stay, but his mind had already been made up," Sanderson told radio station 3AW.

"We play a system now where we play a ruckman and a ruck/forward ... so there certainly would have been a role there for him."

Ivan Maric says his blistering start to the season is due to a combination of factors, including timing and self-belief.

"I think it's ... timing, coming to a club when they're on the up and they needed key-position players and also opportunity," he said.

"[But] I always felt like I was a fit player. I suppose I've always had the belief that I'd be playing like this even when I was at Adelaide."

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has branded cult figure Ivan Maric a star after the big ruckman a career-high 20 disposals and 46 hitouts against Port Adelaide.

"He's been a high-calibre person, what he's delivering on the field is high calibre also. He's been a very good player for us," Hardwick said.

"He's a guy who's starting to understand our system, what's required of him, he gets the ball from A to B and he's been a real plus for us this year."

Tiger Jack Riewoldt says ruckman Angus Graham could benefit from being challenged by ex-Crow Ivan Maric.

"Having Ivan here will challenge him and Gus will have to get his arse into gear. He knows that, and it's exciting that Gus might lift his game as he's never been challenged before," Riewoldt said.

New Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric says it was a tough decision leaving the Crows but a correct decision for the betterment of his career.

"It was pretty early in the year. I was having conversations with Neil Craig and they were saying they were giving me the message they wanted me at the club, but we have to do what's best for you, and if that's exploring other options, we want you to do that," Maric said.

"Initially it was pretty hard for me to take, because I enjoyed my time there and wanted to give a fair bit back to Adelaide, but you have to be proactive in your career."

A three-way trade has been completed that has seen Tom Lynch sent to Adelaide, Ivan Maric to Richmond and St Kilda get a pick.

"I'm grateful [to St Kilda for agreeing to trade Lynch] because I think he just mentally needs a fresh start," Lynch's manager Paul Connors said about his client.

"[Crows coach] Brenton Sanderson has spoken to him, and that's been a breath of fresh air."

Interest from other clubs may scuttle plans for Richmond to snare Adelaide ruckman Ivan Maric during trade week.

"There may be a late player (in negotiations for Maric) but he has made a decision that that is where his best opportunity lies," Crows list manager David Noble said.

"From our side of things, we've got to make sure we get the best deal for our footy club. If that allows those players to get to the clubs of their choice that is fine but if we have to get back to those players to say they need to consider another option well that is what we have to do."

Adelaide believes it will be without ruckman Ivan Maric and Jack Gunston next year with both expected to seek trades.

"They [Gunston and Maric] are both players we did not want to lose and they had been offered new contracts," Adelaide football operations manager Phil Harper said.

"Therefore, we will only be looking at fair and reasonable trades for these players, with the best interests of our club as the main focus."

Crows ruckman Ivan Maric says he welcomes competition from teammates Brad Moran and Sam Jacobs for the main ruck spot at the club.

"With Sam coming into the club and Brad getting his leg right, we have been locking horns every day since the start of pre-season. That has been great for all three of us because we all improve a lot better and a lot quicker," Maric said.

"Whether they were fit or injured, it would not have changed my anything about my mentality. In training or playing, it is important for me to be competitive, aggressive and intimidating. That's when I play my best footy and enjoy my footy."

Adelaide assistant coach Matthew Clarke believes Ivan Maric faces strong competition from Sam Jacobs and Brad Moran in 2011.

"Ivan's done the majority of work in the first ruck role over the last couple of years and was the No.1 ruckman in the last game of last season. Incumbency counts for something but your form is only really good for one or two games," Clarke said.

"What Sam's done so far has been impressive and we've also got Brad Moran, who didn't play at all last year because of injury. We've pretty much got two new ruckmen into the system this year and Ivan will be under pressure from those guys.

"I'm sure they'll all get opportunities throughout the NAB Cup and whoever performs the best over the that period and on the track will get the first crack."

Adelaide's Kurt Tippett hopes he is able to stay forward this Sunday against Port Adelaide with young ruckmen James Sellar and Ivan Maric manning the rucks.

"I'm happy playing wherever Craigy needs me to play, but I've been enjoying my time up forward," Tippett said.

"James Sellar and Ivan have been playing some good football in the ruck, so I think we'll go with them again this week."

Adelaide captain Simon Goodwin will miss another week with his troublesome knee injury.

Ruckman Ivan Maric said it was disappointing not to have the captain available for Saturday night's clash with Richmond on the Gold Coast.

"Wherever Goody plays - forward, back or midfield - you know he's going to do a job and in the last quarter when it's crunch time, you'd put him in the middle every day of the week," Maric said.

Adelaide has lost Brad Moran to injury but fellow ruckman Ivan Maric says he's happy to shoulder more responsibility in his absence and that either Shaun McKernan or James Sellar would be capable replacements for Moran.

"I played against Shaun in the SANFL earlier this year and he's really aggressive and fierce around the ball, which is what midfielders want from a ruckman, especially at the centre square," he said.

"James' centre bounce is pretty good as well, but he's got other strengths like being able to go up forward and kick goals too."

Nathan Van Berlo has joined coach Neil Craig in encouraging both Ivan Maric and Brad Moran to step up and stake a claim on the ruck position at the Crows.

"Over the last couple of weeks we've seen them developing in their around the ground work and also in their physicality," van Berlo said.

"I've noticed a change in attitude from both of them over the past month. Not that it was necessarily required, but I've seen them look to take their games to a new level and stand up because they realise that we need them."

Adelaide coach Neil Craig has made a public apology to ruckman Ivan Maric for berating him at three-quarter time last week in an outburst that was captured on camera.

"I felt I owed Ivan, the rest of our playing group and probably our supporters an apology," Craig said.

"I was embarrassed by it as a coach. That's not the way I want to go about my business and is not part of my trademark as a coach.

"I've made a significant error with the way I want to conduct my business as a coach.

"If I was Ivan, I would've been embarrassed as a player and I don't want to be a coach that embarrasses players publicly."