Foley takes Big V heroics in his stride

Richmond coach Terry Wallace says his star midfielder Nathan Foley is smart enough to realise he won't be afforded the same space on Saturday when the Tigers take on reigning premier Geelong at the MCG as he was when he made such a big impression while playing for Victoria in last week's Hall of Fame match.

The Tigers' pocket dynamo was one of the surprise packets of last week's one-off match and was rated by many as Victoria's third-best player in its 17-point win, behind Allen Aylett Medallist Brendan Fevola and the Kangaroos' 1999 E J Whitten Medallist Brent Harvey.

It continues a meteoric rise for 177cm Foley, who seemingly from nowhere has become the Tigers' best midfielder after only being promoted off the rookie list and onto the senior list in 2005.

But given the Tigers' poor on-field performances in recent times, Foley's talents have not been appreciated by the wider AFL public until last week with even Victorian captain and Brisbane superstar Jonathan Brown admitting Foley was the player that impressed him most last week.

However, while thrilled Foley - the runner-up in the Tigers' best and fairest to Matthew Richardson last season - is finally getting the recognition he deserves, Wallace says the 22-year-old is far from getting carried away.

"I think Nathan understands he was given more time and space in that game (for Victoria) than what he will be afforded in a normal game of footy so you put it in perspective," Wallace said.

"I think any player playing at the elite level and getting the realisation they can step up to that level gains a degree of confidence about them."

"But there is a reality about what that means to the next game of footy you are playing and I wouldn't suggest Cameron Ling (the AFL's No.1 tagger) will give him that much room and space on the weekend."

"So I think he (Foley) is genuine enough to put it (his starring role for Victoria) in perspective."

However Wallace said he did not expect Foley to get increased attention from rival sides in coming weeks, as a result of his Victorian exploits, saying he was already heavily scrutinised.

"I don't think he has got under the guard from the point of view of (opposition) teams and their preparation," Wallace said.

"He wouldn't have gone into a game in the last half of last year or the first seven games of this year where he hasn't been tagged week in and week out."

"He is our No.1 targeted player every game he plays and you have got to have an appreciation and understanding of that (in assessing Foley's performances) but what he (Foley) does is he allows other players to get more time and freedom in the game."

But Wallace admits Foley has probably snuck under the guard of AFL fans in general.

"We haven't been a strong side the last couple of seasons so there is not a lot of attention that goes on players from sides outside the (top) eight," he said.

"And I suppose from a personal point of view he (Foley) is a quiet guy and he is not out there pushing his own barrow at all."