With his 21st birthday just around the corner, however, he's starting to make some strides.
Vickey took a career-high eight marks in the Tigers' 35-point loss to the Bulldogs, including one stonker for which he backed into a pack deep in Richmond's forward line.
Last week he kicked a career-best three goals against Fremantle and he followed up by kicking two goals against the Bulldogs.
His tally from eight games this season is 12 goals, an average of 1.5 a game, which is not bad for a relief ruckman.
His average number of marks a game this season is four.
"It was certainly frustrating early," Vickery said. "I'm still a fair way off what I want to be, but I feel I'm getting better along with the team."
At 200 centimetres, Vickery can expect plenty of time to develop. But in his third season of senior football he's showing signs of being an ideal choice to play as a marking forward who takes his turn in the ruck.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was praised Vickery's development.
"He's progressing at a fair rate," Hardwick said. "We're throwing him out there. I think he's doing a reasonable job."
