With an impressive 90 hitouts in his past two games, Maric is now 11 ahead of his closest rival, the Western Bulldogs’ Will Minson, further underlining his value to the Tigers in his debut season at the Club.
Maric followed up his career-high 49 hitouts, in the Round 18 loss to Carlton at the MCG, with a dominant 41-hitout display in last Saturday night’s 48-point victory over Brisbane at the Gabba.
The 200cm, 26-year-old, ex-Crow, also had 16 disposals (his season’s average), including an equal-game high seven clearances, took three marks, applied six tackles and kicked a goal, in another top-class rucking performance.
The top 10 players in the competition for total hitouts are:
1. Ivan Maric (Richmond), 557
2. Will Minson (Western Bulldogs), 546
Eq. 3. Sam Jacobs (Adelaide), 527
Eq. 3. Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne), 527
5. Darren Jolly (Collingwood), 440
6. Dean Cox (West Coast), 433
7. Mark Jamar (Melbourne), 425
8. Trent West (Geelong), 420
9. Nic Natanui (West Coast), 410
10. David Hale (Hawthorn), 393
