Maric played 77 games for Adelaide from 2006-11 but just six last season after losing the Crows' No. 1 ruck spot to Sam Jacobs.
Traded to the Tigers at the end of last season, Maric has been a revelation in 2012, playing every game and giving Richmond the strong physical presence it lacked at stoppages last season. After round nine, Maric is averaging more than 16 disposals and nearly 30 hit-outs, dramatically up from his career averages of 10 and 17.
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Maric told SEN radio on Monday his career-best form had been due to a good timing and self-belief, but not improved fitness.
"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."
Maric said the confidence Richmond had shown in making him its No. 1 ruckman had also been a factor in his form spike.
"They said 'we want [you to play] your style of game and just play aggressively and compete and compete and compete'," Maric said.
"That's what I've love doing. That's when I play my best footy ... it makes you feel more confident when the coaching staff say those things to you."
Now 26, Maric said his greater physical and mental maturity had also contributed to his impressive start at Richmond. But he said his development as a ruckman was a product of all the AFL coaching he had received.
"I've been educated really well - now I've got [Richmond ruck coach] Brendon Lade and he's sort of just letting me play a fair bit and giving me a few pointers here and there," Maric said.
"But I've had some great coaches in Matthew Clarke and Mick Redden in Adelaide."
Maric said the hardest thing about his move to Richmond had been building working relationships with the Tigers' midfielders.
"I had good relationships with guys like Scott Thompson and Bernie Vince at the Crows," Maric said.
"But now I'm building really good ones with Shane Tuck and 'Cotch' (Trent Cotchin) and Brett Deledio.
"So it's having a really good understanding between us ... creating eye contact around stoppages (so) they know where I'm going to hit. Those things are really important between a ruckman and midfielders."
After close losses to Geelong and West Coast earlier this year, Maric said Richmond's 62-point win over Hawthorn last Saturday was "bloody sensational".
"To get a result like we did on the weekend was really special," he said.
Nick Bowen is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter @AFL_Nick
