The frustration of spending the first half of the 2014 season on the sidelines, due to an ankle injury, has proven to be a blessing in disguise for inspirational Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric.

It was a fitter, fresher and wiser Maric, who helped turn the Tigers’ fortunes around during the second half of the season.

The fitness and freshness was due to the delayed playing start he had, after undergoing surgery pre-season to remove bone spurs in his ankle.

The increased wisdom came as a result of Richmond’s trials and tribulations while he was recovering from injury.

“It was hard missing a lot of games at the start of the year.  Sitting on the sidelines, I felt really helpless,” he told ‘Roar Vision’.

“I look back, and I’m a bit disappointed in myself, because I think I could have spoken up a bit more.  But, I suppose, the same as the team, I sort of had to go through it.

“I learned a lot about myself and, I suppose, how much respect I have within the group, and how the guys listen to me.

“So, when I got back playing, I just wanted to do all the simple, team things really well.  And, I tried to lead on-field and around the Club in those ways.”

Maric played his first senior game of the 2014 season in the Round 11 Dreamtime clash with Essendon.

The quietly spoken, but fiercely determined 28-year-old was a significant factor in the Tigers’ revival.  He averaged 14.4 disposals and 25.4 hit-outs per match, but the raw numbers alone don’t do justice to the influence he exerted through his powerful on-field presence.

“I felt really good . . . the body felt strong.  I felt fit, and haven’t felt like that since my first year at Richmond (2012).  So, I’m looking forward to this pre-season coming up.  No operations this time and injury-free, so a big pre-season,” he said.

Maric knows exactly how he wants to go about the business of helping the Tigers take the next key step in 2015 . . .

“Just setting high standards and meeting those standards at the Club, day-in, day-out, session after session, is so important for me,” he said.

“There’s not too much special about me.  What you see, is what you get.

“I just want to lead and demand high standards of everyone.

“That’s important for me as a player and for the team.”