Richmond coach Damien Hardwick admits to having placed a fair weight of expectation on talented, young tall Ty Vickery, but with good reason . . . he rates him so highly.

Vickery managed to have a decent impact in 2013, after missing the second half of the 2012 season with a severe shoulder injury.

He played 21 games, kicked 27 goals, and was ranked 12^th overall in the competition for total contested marks.

With the Tigers’ recruitment of big man Shaun Hampson from Carlton at the start of the AFL’s 2013 trade period early this week, Vickery seems set to play a more permanent key forward role next season, and Hardwick believes he has the ability to cause major headaches for opposition backlines.

“He’s going to be a very good player, Tyrone,” Hardwick said.

“It’s hard to believe he’s only 23 years of age . . . I forget it, too.

“He’s a player that I put enormous responsibility on.  He kicked about 30 goals this year, which is pretty good for a guy that’s 23.  They do take a lot of time, the big guys.

“The scary thing is he’s got a lot of improvement in him.  He’s got to improve his work-rate and also his second efforts at stages.

“But what he can do is, when he takes a mark, he can kick goals.  So, we’re looking forward to that improving next year also.”