NATHAN Foley’s appointment as one of Richmond’s two vice-captains for season 2008 continues the 22-year-old’s rapid rise to the AFL’s elite.

Unwanted in the 2003 NAB AFL Draft, Foley, who along with Chris Newman will serve as a deputy to skipper Kane Johnson, was among the Tigers’ new leadership group announced by the club on Monday.

Foley was ecstatic to learn that he would play a part in helping try to lead the Tigers back up the AFL table in coming years.

“It’s a big honour, it’s massive,” he told afl.com.au.

“It’s been a quick turnaround I suppose, so it’s really exciting.”

Foley, or “Axel” as he is known down at Punt Road, has had to do it the hard way to make it to the top level – despite starring for the Geelong Falcons at under-18 level.

Considered too small by many clubs as an 18 year old, Foley’s relentless work ethic eventually paid off.

“I went down and started training with Melbourne and trained there for a while … I trained there pretty much up until the rookie draft,” Foley recalled.

“I got picked up by Richmond early in the rookie draft. Richmond had spoken to me but didn’t tell me when they were going to take me or anything like that.

“So I didn’t have much of an idea what was going on. Melbourne had shown a little bit of interest as well, but yeah Richmond picked me up early, which was good.”

Tigers fans would be thanking their lucky stars the club’s recruiting staff did so, as the former Colac boy has basically gone from strength to strength ever since.

It’s difficult to believe that just four years ago the determined midfielder was playing the odd game for the Coburg reserves in the VFL.

“I played in Coburg’s twos a few times and that sort of stuff in 2004, but by the end of the season I was playing some decent, consistent footy at VFL level I suppose,” he said.

“Then in 2005 I played first rover at Coburg and was lucky enough to get called up about round 10 to make my AFL debut and was sort of in and out of the Richmond side a little bit from then on in.”

After two seasons on the Tigers’ rookie list, the club then elevated Foley to its senior list. The rest, as they say, is history.

Last year, as most footy fans and especially those yellow and black diehards would know, was Foley’s breakout season.

His 2007 season saw him nominated for All-Australian selection, finish runner-up to champion Matthew Richardson in the Tigers’ best and fairest, and undoubtedly catapulted him into leadership calculations.

This week’s appointments at Tigerland came as no surprise to Geelong Falcons regional manager Michael Turner, who knows a thing or two about leadership.

Turner, a former Geelong captain who played 245 matches for the Cats, says Foley’s attitude has helped him reach where he is today.

“The most important thing to me is attitude, and if you’ve got the attitude and you’re coachable and you’ve got the desire to work really hard, which he has, then once you’re drafted to an AFL club … you can improve out of sight,” Turner said.

“It’s just a great story because he’s a fantastic kid.

“He made probably the best speech I’ve ever heard when he won our best and fairest [in 2003].

“He had no notes, no nothing and I don’t think he missed anyone in the room. He’s just an outstanding kid.”