Player Watch #21: Jacob Townsend - JJ Liston Medalist 2017

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RodneyDangerfield said:
Who cares guys.
Players deficiencies are always exaggerated when making a case against just as their good attributes are when being pumped up.
And every single poster on this board has got things dead right and also been made to look utterly foolish.
That's what footy does.
Let's just enjoy what's happening.
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No other than Tiger71 our resident man with all the inside scoop. :eek::cool:;):oops:
 

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Article on Towno - a fan favourite now.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-09-17/townsend-lets-stellar-season-speak-for-itself
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SOMETHING remarkable happened to Jacob Townsend on Monday night.

The shy kid from rugby-obsessed Leeton in New South Wales' Riverina region had only days earlier bravely discussed, in a News Corp article, his ever-present stutter.

It wasn't new for anyone who knows him, because it isn't something he can hide despite no lack of trying. He sometimes chooses listening over engaging in conversations to avoid speaking in front of others.

Then came the VFL's night of nights at the Crown Palladium this week. The J.J. Liston Trophy count was reaching a crescendo, and player-manager and MC Nigel Carmody announced, with a round to go, Townsend could not be beaten.

The 24-year-old Tiger knew what that meant: he would have to get up on stage and speak in front of hundreds of people.

"I was actually pretty calm and collected as soon as I found out I was going to win it, when I couldn't get overtaken," Townsend said.

"I wasn't sure how I spoke or anything, because I wasn't really paying attention to myself, but I was actually calm and maybe me talking about (my speech impediment) … might have helped me a bit when I had to go up there."

Townsend's life is unrecognisable from a month ago, when he was coming to terms with the possibility he might, for the first time in his six-year AFL career, fail to play a senior game. It could have ended there.

But Josh Caddy's hamstring injury in round 21 proved the stroke of fortune Townsend needed, finally giving him the chance he craved so badly.

His response is now part of the Richmond fairytale, with 13 goals in three matches, including two in the 51-point qualifying final thumping of Geelong in front of a 95,000-strong MCG crowd.

"It's obviously been good and (an experience) I'm going to cherish for a lifetime, coming from a small town and now playing in front of 95,000," Townsend said.

"We came out first and that was loud, then when the Cats came out, you couldn't hear their team song, because of all the boos. The Tiger Army, as they call it, is obviously big and a very passionate bunch of fans."

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he writing was on the wall for Townsend late last year, with established midfielders Dion Prestia and Caddy arriving at Punt Rd from the Gold Coast and Geelong respectively.

Townsend, purely an inside midfielder then, had already struggled to earn just four AFL games in his first season with Richmond after crossing from Greater Western Sydney. An honest discussion with the Tigers' coaching staff hammered the point home.

"If I was going to be playing a game in the ones, it would be more forward than coming into the middle," he said.

Townsend, never one to duck a challenge, set about thriving in his new role as a de facto key forward at just 187cm, while still spending time in the midfield.

Richmond's VFL and forwards coach Craig McRae and development coach Xavier Clarke, as well as Townsend's "crew" – teammates Anthony Miles, Sam Lloyd and Taylor Hunt – became his greatest assets.

McRae is rapt for Townsend and raves about his marking ability, which was on show late in last week's final when he outmarked the similarly sized Jed Bews on the goal line.

Less hailed but just as valuable as his scoreboard impact was his nullifying jobs on relative giants Michael Johnson, Jake Carlisle and Lachie Henderson.

McRae's sole complaint, with tongue firmly in cheek, was he wouldn't have Townsend at his disposal as the VFL Tigers also strive to win the premiership.

"He's pretty shy; the spotlight doesn't shine on him like others that like it," McRae said.

"He goes about his business really well and he's a hard trainer and uncompromising in his attack on the ball.

"I was going to ask 'Dimma' (Damien Hardwick) if he can play (in the VFL preliminary final) – he wants to play – but I think he's well entrenched in the AFL at the moment, so that's a high priority for him and the team."

Townsend is suddenly a man in demand, and the spotlight is suiting him just fine.
 
_Cayz_ said:
He has a speech impediment/stutter.
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Good on him then. He's not letting it stop him.

He also said that he hasn't looked at a new contract yet, and they talked about fringe players needing to make sure they have backup career options after footy.
 
Whilst im happy for Jacob and wish him well and hope he continue's his purple patch for another 2 games atleast,I still think that he is well outside our best 22 and will fall further behind with the midfield quality coming through in Graham & C.Ellis.

His saving will be if he can hold onto his foward position which i see as short term and will be replaced with further development of Moore,Chol and Draftee's we will bring into the club or trade's like Schache or Stringer (which i dont believe we will consider)

But certainly worth another 1 year deal on $100k-$120k as Depth
 
THE_GUN said:
Whilst im happy for Jacob and wish him well and hope he continue's his purple patch for another 2 games atleast,I still think that he is well outside our best 22 and will fall further behind with the midfield quality coming through in Graham & C.Ellis.

His saving will be if he can hold onto his foward position which i see as short term and will be replaced with further development of Moore,Chol and Draftee's we will bring into the club or trade's like Schache or Stringer (which i dont believe we will consider)

But certainly worth another 1 year deal on $100k-$120k as Depth
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You wot m8? Jacob is the goat
 
THE_GUN said:
Whilst im happy for Jacob and wish him well and hope he continue's his purple patch for another 2 games atleast,I still think that he is well outside our best 22 and will fall further behind with the midfield quality coming through in Graham & C.Ellis.

His saving will be if he can hold onto his foward position which i see as short term and will be replaced with further development of Moore,Chol and Draftee's we will bring into the club or trade's like Schache or Stringer (which i dont believe we will consider)

But certainly worth another 1 year deal on $100k-$120k as Depth
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He's not playing as a midfielder though, he's playing defensive forward on the oppositions main intercept marker, Lachie Henderson had only 3 marks against us in the Qualifying Final, yet had 13 against Sydney as he was free to mark whatever he liked, I think his role is far more important than what it seems to the casual viewer.
 

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ComfortablyNumb said:
He's not playing as a midfielder though, he's playing defensive forward on the oppositions main intercept marker, Lachie Henderson had only 3 marks against us in the Qualifying Final, yet had 13 against Sydney as he was free to mark whatever he liked, I think his role is far more important than what it seems to the casual viewer.
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Thats only because we dont have another quality KPF , If we had a quality KPF then we wouldnt play a defensive med fwd the 3-4 mosquito's would be doing that job
 
THE_GUN said:
Thats only because we dont have another quality KPF , If we had a quality KPF then we wouldnt play a defensive med fwd the 3-4 mosquito's would be doing that job
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I can't see a small guy trying to constantly defend against a tall guy plus a lot of those intercept markers play off the KPF to get those marks, Henderson was able to still take 10 more marks even though Sydney have 2 KPF in Buddy and Sinclair.
 
ComfortablyNumb said:
I can't see a small guy trying to constantly defend against a tall guy plus a lot of those intercept markers play off the KPF to get those marks, Henderson was able to still take 10 more marks even though Sydney have 2 KPF in Buddy and Sinclair.
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Spot on. We've tried a few in this role or similar, haven't really had someone this effective since Jakey King. Townsend extends the role a bit more because of his marking prowess. It's a tough gig playing defensive forward and he may yet struggle, but for now he can thrive on his few achievements in that role. GWS is a little more difficult to identify the right match up, but maybe Heater.
 
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Phar Ace said:
Spot on. We've tried a few in this role or similar, haven't really had someone this effective since Jakey King. Townsend extends the role a but more because of his marking prowess. It's a tough gig playing defensive forward and he may yet struggle, but for now he can thrive on his few achievements in that role. GWS is a little more difficult to identify the right match up, but maybe Heater.
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Yeah I was thinking about this before the GWS Eagles game and was struggling to think of who he'd go to in the event of a GWS won (which has happened). If we played the Eagles he probably would've gone to McGovern however I don't know as much about the GWS defence to pick out someone, Phil Davis I imagine would go to Jack. Having someone to make Heater accountable would be handy and Towna is probably best suited for that.
 
After watching Henderson roam free against Sydney just underlines his tactical importance in the team! Playing a role which Lloyd or Miles can't play with his height. good with pressure in the forward line, makes every 1v1 difficult for defender. probably not the stamina required for afl midfield. he also lets Caddy do more damage as a high half forward. Good pairing of talls.

Think of him as a Vlastuin upfront. What a find. So many players are naturally contest and midfield-minded and suits our pressure to a tee.

If we were playing against Rance I'd want Towno on Rance.
 
Mogwai said:
After watching Henderson roam free against Sydney just underlines his tactical importance in the team! Playing a role which Lloyd or Miles can't play with his height. good with pressure in the forward line, makes every 1v1 difficult for defender. probably not the stamina required for afl midfield. he also lets Caddy do more damage as a high half forward. Good pairing of talls.

Think of him as a Vlastuin upfront. What a find. So many players are naturally contest and midfield-minded and suits our pressure to a tee.

If we were playing against Rance I'd want Towno on Rance.
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Rance's first half against Port is similar to what Towna is doing to his opponents.
 
tigerz18 said:
Dont think he'll take heater. He takes the intercept marker - so haynes or corr?
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Haynes was the other I thought maybe. He plays the truer interceptor doesn't he. Then dishes to one of Shaw Wilson and Wiliams (when not flipped fwd). GWS seem to like Davis up the ground a bit more so Corr might well get first crack at Jack.
 
Phar Ace said:
Haynes was the other I thought maybe. He plays the truer interceptor doesn't he. Then dishes to one of Shaw Wilson and Wiliams (when not flipped fwd). GWS seem to like Davis up the ground a bit more so Corr might well get first crack at Jack.
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This imo

Towno to Haynes, Corr will take first crack at Riewoldt i reckon as you said
 
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