:Draft:Archer reid

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Ryan Maric

| image =

| image_size = 200px

| caption =

| fullname = Ryan Maric

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|09|06|df=yes}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = Drouin, Gippsland Power

| draftpick = No. 38, [[2023 AFL draft#2022 national draft

| debutdate = Round 13, 2024

| debutteam = {{AFL|WC}}

| debutopponent = {{AFL Ade}}

| debutstadium = Adelaide Oval

| height = 196 cm

| weight = 93 kg

| position = Defender

| currentclub = {{AFL|WC}}

| guernsey = 23

| years1 = 2023–

| club1 = {{AFL|WC}}

| games_goals1 = 35 (16)

| statsend = round 6, 2025

| careerhighlights =

}}

Ryan Maric (born 6 September 2004) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays with the West Coast Eagles Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early career

Ryan Maric grew up in the West Gippsland town of Drouin, When he was 15 he had a growth spurt where he gained 30cm in height. The growth spurt caused some back issues and then a dose of glandular fever, he became overweight{{cite web | url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/932266/lighter-fitter-stronger-hard-yards-pay-off-for-mid-season-draft-prospect-ryan-maric | title=Lighter, fitter, stronger: Hard yards pay off for mid-season draft prospect | date=22 May 2023 }} and then worked hard to get to his current playing weight{{cite web | url=https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/1347658/eagles-land-maric-in-mid-season-rookie-draft | title=Eagles land Maric in Mid-Season Rookie Draft | date=31 May 2023 }}{{cite web | url=https://pakenham.starcommunity.com.au/sport/2023-06-06/dream-ride-from-drouin-to-perth/ | title=Dream ride from Drouin to Perth | date=6 June 2023 }}

During 2023 he played with four different teams this year Gippsland Power, Victoria Country, Young Guns and Box Hill Hawks. His two games at Box Hill yielded 4 goals.

AFL career

Maric was the first player picked in the 2023 mid-season draft,{{cite web | url=https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/1347658/eagles-land-maric-in-mid-season-rookie-draft | title=Eagles land Maric in Mid-Season Rookie Draft | date=31 May 2023 }} He received an eighteen-month contract with the Eagles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/940815/pre-agents-being-tracked-flag-cat-to-re-sign-no-1-pick-to-wait|title=Big Docker eyes deal, pre-agents to watch, U18 titles kick off|date=1 June 2023|website=afl.com.au}}

Maric played one game in the WAFL before getting called up to make his debut against {{AFL Ade}} in Adelaide.{{cite web | url=https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/1352949/magical-moment-as-maric-set-to-debut | title=Magical moment as Maric set to debut | date=8 June 2023 }}

Maric kicked a goal with his first kick in AFL football.{{cite news |title=‘Fairy tales do come true!’ Eagles debutant’s dream start to life as an AFL footballer |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/fairy-tales-do-come-true-eagles-debutants-dream-start-to-life-as-an-afl-footballer/news-story/3214ab1179eb47a21999f3797622dafa |access-date=26 February 2025 |work=Fox Sports |date=10 June 2023 |language=en}}

=2025: Switch to the backline as a medium defender=

At the start of the 2025 season Maric was placed into the backline, playing a defensive role as a medium defender being switched from the forward and wing roles he played in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Statistics

: Statistics are correct to the end of round 6, 2025

| 2023 || {{AFL WC}} || 41

| 10 || 9 || 2 || 45 || 55 || 100 || 28 || 26 || 0.9 || - || 4.5|| 5.5 || 10 || 2.8 || 2.6

| 2024 || {{AFL WC}} || 41

| 19 || 7 || 4 || 103 || 75 || 178 || 57 || 23 || 0.4 || – || 5.7 || 4.2 || 9.9 || 3.2 || 1.3

| 2025 || {{AFL WC}} || 23

| 6 || 0 || 0 || 97 || 29 || 126 || 20 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 16.2 || 4.8 || 21 || 2.5 || 1

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career

! 35 !! 16 !! 6 !! 245 !! 163 !! 404 !! 104 !! 55 !! - !! - !! - !! - !! - !! - !! -

References

External links

{{Wceplayer}}
{{AFL Tables}}
{{AustralianFootball}}
{{WAFL FootyFacts}}