Hawthorn could be a good fit for Tyrone Vickery, says former Hawks recruiter Gary BuckenaraJAY CLARK
Herald Sun
August 20, 2016 RICHMOND free agent Tyrone Vickery has been urged to join powerhouse Hawthorn in a bid to revive his flagging career.
Ex-Hawthorn list chief Gary Buckenara said the Hawks were a perfect new home for Vickery after eight seasons at Punt Rd.
Vickery is expected to depart Richmond, after he was dropped for Saturday’s clash against St Kilda at the MCG.
The move would bolster Richmond’s draft position if, as expected, Vickery’s exit netted it pick No.25 (on current ladder positions) as second-round free agency compensation.
“In this draft, pick No.25 still gets you a good young player because the depth in it is similar to last year’s (draft), so they could make it win-win,” Buckenara said.
The former talent chief, who helped put together one of the AFL’s best sides over the past decade, said the expertise in the Hawthorn coaching staff, led by Alastair Clarkson, would benefit Vickery enormously.
Buckenara said the 200cm ruck-forward needed to play at a club which could take some of the pressure off him.
“When he (Vickery) played at his best, he has shown he has AFL-quality; it has just been so inconsistent,” he said.
“Maybe in the Hawthorn system under ‘Clarko’ and with their development program, which has been proven over such a long period of time, it would bring the best out of Ty.”
Buckenara said Vickery, 26, could fill the key forward role vacated by retired tall David Hale at the end of last season, and complement goal kickers Jack Gunston, 24, and James Sicily, 21.
Without Jarryd Roughead, sidelined as he recovers from melanoma, rivals have put extra attention on Gunston, while Sicily’s form has also wavered.
“Ty would give them (Hawthorn) the size and structure that they will look for, particularly now with Hale retired,” Buckenara said.
“Hale played such an important role for the club that allowed the Gunstons and the Sicily types to really flourish, so I think on that basis it would be a good move.”
Buckenara likened the early part of Vickery’s career to Melbourne No.1 draft pick Jack Watts, and said the intense spotlight on him at Richmond had been counter-productive.
“A lot of the younger players which get drafted into better-performed teams don’t have that pressure and expectation on them and there is a level of patience from everybody,” he said.
“Sometimes at clubs which have been at the bottom, the impatience gets exacerbated and people expect more than what young players are capable of and I think Ty is maybe a bit that way.”
Richmond champion Matthew Richardson believed “a fresh start might be good for him”.
Essendon premiership captain Tim Watson said he believed Vickery had played his last game at Richmond.
“He needs to go somewhere new, a new set of eyes cast over him,” Watson said.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/hawthorn-could-be-a-good-fit-for-vickery-says-former-hawks-recruiter-gary-buckenara/news-story/99ec8f37362621001f83cb2fc3f01df8
