The 18-year-old from the Sandringham Dragons has been training with his dad and said it was a massive relief to be taken at No.8 in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft.
"As soon as it started, the nerves really kicked in and some heavy breaths were taken, but the sooner your name gets called out, the sooner the anxiety ends," he told afl.com.au just minutes after being selected.
"It's a massive relief – it's a lot of hard work, and to stay in Melbourne around family ...
"It's a great club, it's got some great fitness staff with my dad, and I'm very happy.
"I train with him three or four times a week with a group, and he treats me no different – he's very hard on me."
Vickery is a strong-marking ruckman who can also play forward, and is noted for his ability to make good decisions when under pressure, attributes that saw him selected in the 2008 All-Australian Under-18 side.
He said it was no contest as to who he was most looking forward to training with at the Tigers.
"I've been a Richmond fan for a while so obviously Matty Richardson, as any Tigers fan would, but really all of them – I'm just looking forward to getting down there.
"Terry (Wallace, coach) has always been very friendly towards me, and always willing to have a chat to me; that's the only way I've ever known him, and nothing's changed since the first time I met him."
And it's always a good thing when your mum is pleased.
"I think she had a couple of sleepless nights at the thought of me going interstate, but the whole family's very relieved."
