Ty Vickery’s equal career-high four goals against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday is likely to become a familiar sight for Tigers fans, according to teammate Ivan Maric.

Vickery returned with a vengeance in Richmond's 25-point win over the Lions at the MCG, responding in strong fashion to his omission from the senior team earlier this year.

Maric believes Vickery's development is right on track.

"He's just going to get better and better. Big guys take a bit of time and everyone needs to be patient," Maric told AFL.com.au.

"Tyrone is going to be a great ruckman/forward for this footy club."

With the Lions' key forward struggles exposed, Vickery's presence proved to be the difference at the other end of the ground.

The 200cm big man finished with 16 disposals, four marks and eight hit-outs to demonstrate his importance to the Tigers' structure.

As is typical with Vickery, his four goals came with some niggle and off the ball sparring with opponents.

Maric believes that aggression is an essential part of Vickery's game.

"You have to have that aggression as a big guy," Maric said.

"If you get into a little scuffle, so be it. Sometimes you have to pay the fine for the team to succeed.

"When he's playing aggressive, he plays well."

Like Vickery, Maric's standing in Richmond's side cannot be underestimated.

Maric's absence for the first 10 rounds of the season as he recovered from ankle surgery left a gaping hole in Richmond's lineup.

Now with six games under his belt, Maric is starting to come into his own.

His battle with Lions ruckman Stefan Martin was intriguing and Maric said he relished the challenge.

"I love getting into that zone where I'm absolutely hurting and my mind wants me to stop and I just keep going.

"I believe that if can play in that zone for longer than my opponent I can eventually wear him down, but it was a good duel with Stef today."

The mentality of doing "the little things" had deserted the Tigers in the early stages of this season, Maric said.

But the Tigers ruckman saw signs in the win over the Lions that made him think things were starting to turn.

"I believe it happens at training. You have to do it at training. You've got to train your mind because there's times in the game where you're going to hurt," he said.

"Your legs are burning and you've got to say, 'Shut up legs' and just keep running, find and then stop your opponent."