Highly-respected, veteran Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric encapsulated what’s driven him throughout his AFL playing career in the retirement speech he made at the Club earlier today.

Maric, who announced he will bow out of league football at the end of this season, told teammates, coaches, officials, family and friends that he always put the team before any individual gains.

“I’ve never ever really won anything major as a player over the course of my career. My name doesn’t appear on any locker and, if I’m honest with myself, it does hurt my ego a little bit. But then, I remind myself . . . that’s not the reason why I wanted to play footy,” Maric said.

“Fame was never a factor.

VIDEO: Watch the best of Ivan Maric

“When I play football, I play with my heart and my soul.

“I always play for the team, and I always want the team to succeed and win.

“When that final siren sounds for me, I aim to walk off with my chest out, shoulders up and my chin up, knowing that I played the way Ivan Maric was supposed to play – the way that would make my family and friends proud . . .

“I’m going to finish what I started, by playing out the rest of this season.

“I want to see out the year by preparing at my absolute best to give myself the chance to compete at my best for the team.

“I won’t be pulling up short . . . I want to finish all the way to the finish line. And, if any of you think that I’m pulling up short, I want you to come and tell me to my face . . . to get my mind on the job because we’ve got a f...... game to win this week.

“That’s enough about me, we’ve got a f...... game to win. We’ve got to beat Port (AFL) and Essendon (VFL).”