Channel Seven’s post-game vision last Saturday night of inspirational Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric tidying the Tigers’ change-rooms, was no surprise to those who know the big cult hero.
Maric had again been a valuable on-field contributor for Richmond, picking up 15 disposals, including 10 contested possessions, a game-high seven clearances, team-high three centre clearances and winning 23 hit-outs in the team’s gritty ‘Dreamtime’ win against Essendon.
Yet, despite coming off the ground exhausted, Maric still managed to help out with some cleaning work in the rooms.
“He’s a bloody good teammate, I tell you that,” hard-running Tiger midfielder Shaun Grigg told the ABC.
Chaplin on the Sunday Footy Show
“He’s the ultimate professional. He’s won an award we have around the Club – the best clubman award – for the last couple of years.
“Being vice-captain as well, he really drives our standards around the Club, our training standards, everything . . . in the gym, keeping the place clean.
“He’s a really good leader for us and he’s been playing really well.”
Richmond assistant coach Greg Mellor was similarly effusive in his praise of Maric.
“He just plays with massive heart,” Mellor said on ‘The Richmond Review’.
“I guess he’s almost the heartbeat of the team in that regard.
“He just wills the team to win and he refuses to be beaten.
“Sometimes his natural ability may be shaded by someone else with more natural ability, but he just doesn’t give in, and I thought his effort in that area (v Essendon) was just sensational.
“He’s our standards-setter, and he sets the standard on everything.
“That (helping tidy the rooms post-game) is just a perfect example of his awareness and his care, not only for the group, but for the environment that the group’s in.
“He expects that, and he demands that with the way he speaks to the group. He will challenge people who don’t follow that standard, and he does exactly the same on the field and at training.
“He’s a terrific leader, and that’s why he’s our vice-captain . . .”
