Another chapter in the already remarkable journey of Ryan Maric from country footy to the pinnacle of the game will be penned when the 18-year-old mid-season rookie makes his AFL debut on Saturday.
A week ago Maric hadn’t even set foot inside the West Coast Eagles facility at Mineral Resources Park. In two days’ time he will run out alongside Norm Smith medallist Luke Shuey, dual all-Australian Elliot Yeo, star forward Oscar Allen and brilliant midfielder Tim Kelly, to name a few.
While the hope and dream was to get an opportunity this season after being snared with #1 in last week’s rookie draft, he could never expected to be preparing for the moment quite so soon.
When the squad travels to Adelaide for a clash with the Crows at Adelaide Oval he will be on the flight for yet another momentous personal achievement.
Understandably when the news of his imminent debut was announced to the playing group at a team meeting yesterday he was a picture of wide-eyed disbelief.
“It’s just pretty surreal,” he said as he processed the news. “I only got drafted a week ago. I’ve only been here four or five days, so to go straight in pretty quickly it’s pretty crazy. I’m just over the moon. It’s all happened pretty quickly. I’m so happy.
“It’s a bit of a whirlwind. My head has been spinning the first couple of days, just trying to settle into my new living arrangements and new schedule. It’s all happening.”
Just two years ago Maric was playing for his local club in Drouin before committing to losing weight and giving himself the opportunity to play at the highest level. He had developed back issues through a sudden growth spurt and then faced glandular fever before making strong progress with Gippsland Power in the Coates Talent League.
After yesterday’s team meeting he was quickly on the phone to his parents to tell them of his evolving real life fairytale.
Having played for Gippsland, Victoria Country, the Young Guns, Box Hill and the WAFL Eagles last Saturday he will now play for his sixth team in an amazing season of adventure.
“Both parents were over the moon and pretty shocked as well, I reckon. Very excited,” he enthused. “(The club is) Flying my dad over and he’s pretty excited. Mum, I called her, she’s in Bali but she’s over the moon as well. Very proud.”
“It’s difficult. I’ve been pretty tired the last couple of days. I didn’t realise how many meetings and how many people there are you have to talk to. Everyone here is awesome, so I’ve felt very welcomed and very loved from the first day I walked in.
“It’s building those stronger connections now. It’s a great place, great environment so I can’t be happier.”
Asked what advice coach Adam Simpson and his new teammates offered about his pending entry into elite football, Maric responded: “Not too much, just enjoy the process. It only happens once in your career so I’m just very grateful.”
And his knowledge of Adelaide?
“I’d like to think I’m a bit of a footy nuffy so it’s going to be pretty surreal playing against some of the people I’ve been barracking for in Supercoach. I love my footy and try not to miss many games, so it will be pretty crazy.”
