RICHMOND ruckman Ivan Maric expects to play at least one more game in the VFL before being considered for senior selection.

After making a successful return to football in the VFL on Saturday, the 28-year-old said he wants to earn back his spot through good form.

Yet to play a senior game this season after ankle surgery, Maric played about 60 per cent of the game at Punt Road against the Box Hill Hawks as planned.

He began on the bench and sat out most of the last quarter but showed his strength around the ball and took a big one-handed mark early in the second term.

The Tigers lost but Maric's was greeted with a round of applause from the crowd when he left the bench to join the game midway through the first quarter.
 
"[The] body felt great. [I] felt fit," Maric said. [I have] just got to get a few more games here [in the VFL] I reckon. The next stage is a full game, then really get some good form and earn my spot back. That is all I want to do."

Richmond development coach and former Hawthorn ruckman Max Bailey told AFL.com.au it was great to have Maric back playing.

"He is such a good, vibrant character," Bailey said. "For him just to blow the cobwebs out is good so he'll be better for it."

Bailey said Maric needed the run to regain some touch and probably needed at least one more game before being considered for senior selection.

"Even he [Maric] would probably admit that, just to blow the cobwebs out, and then he would be OK," Bailey said.

For the 28-year-old Maric it was exciting just to be back and running.

"[I'm] doing what I love to do. Whether it is here or AFL level I just want to play footy," Maric said.