Ivan Maric

Infobox afl player


firstname = Ivan
lastname = Maric


birthdate = birth date and age|1986|1|4|df=y
birthplace =
originalteam = Keilor
Calder Cannons
heightweight = 198 cm / 102 kg
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = Round 6, 6 May 2006
debutteam = Adelaide
debutopponent = Port Adelaide| debutstadium = AAMI Stadium
playingteams = Adelaide (2005-)

28 games, 15 goals
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = Rnd 21, 2008
careerhighlights =

Ivan Maric (Croatian: "Ivan Marić", born 4 January 1986) is an Australian rules football player of Croatian descentcite journal |author=Josip Locarić |title=2006 Year in Review (September) |year=2008 |doi= |url=http://newgeneration.croatianherald.com/History/tabid/99/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/979/2006-The-Year-in-Review.aspx] cite journal |author=Katrina Gill |title= Pre-season snapshot: Adelaide|year=2007 |doi= |url=http://cms.afl.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=52697] in the Australian Football League and is number 20 of the Adelaide Crows Football Club.

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 Cannons 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.

2006

Maric's impressive form with the Port Adelaide Magpies continued in early 2006 and he was rewarded with his AFL debut in round six of 2006 in the Showdown against Port Power. 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.

2007

Maric was expected to become a regular in the Adelaide Crows 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 the Hawthorn Football Club. He had eight disposals and kicked two goals. In the round 19 clash with the Geelong Cats 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.

References