Ty aims highafl.com.au
Mon 27 Feb, 2012Ty Vickery enters the 2012 season in a vastly different frame of mind to this time last year.
Back then, Vickery, Richmond’s first pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2008 National Draft, was still feeling his way at the game’s highest level and hadn’t cemented himself as a regular member of the Tigers’ team.
He’d kicked five goals in nine games in his 2009 debut season, averaging just over two marks per match. Then, in 2010, he scored three goals in 14 senior appearances and averaged just under two marks per game.
Last year, however, Vickery enjoyed a breakout season of AFL football. He spent most of the season up forward for the Tigers, where he proved a major handful for opposition defences with his height, marking ability and all-round footy ‘smarts’.
The talented Tiger ‘tall’ was ranked No. 5 at the Club for total marks (95), No. 2 for contested marks (29), No. 2 for goals (36), and he capped off a fine season’s work by finishing fifth in the Jack Dyer Medal.
With his self-belief levels rising rapidly, Vickery appears well-placed to deal with the added expectations placed on him in 2012 . . .
“I think there is a lot of improvement this year. I was pleased with my season last year just because there was so much of the unknown going into it,” Vickery told ‘The Age’.
“I didn’t know how well I was going, learning how to play forward, or whether I would play much seniors. But with that year under my belt, I’m expecting a better return this season.”
Vickery is keen to put some more kilos on to his 200cm, 96kg frame, to further enhance his prospects in Richmond’s attack.
“It’s hard to tell standing next to opponents what I need to get to because I’m so much taller. But you do notice it in some contests against the bigger centre half-backs,” he said.
“I probably need to put on another two or three kilos, then I’d be happy.”
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/129625/default.aspx
