NSW Player of the Week: Jacob Townsend

By James Matthey

Riverina product Jacob Townsend remembers the day when AFL became his top sporting priority.

“I was at a stage where I was making rep sides for AFL and Rugby Union, and both rep carnivals fell on the same day so I had to make a choice between AFL or Rugby, so I chose AFL and it’s paid off so far.”

The GWS GIANTS are certainly glad that the all-round sportsman chose a Sherrin above anything else, with the fearless midfielder showing signs that he could turn into something very special in the years to come.

Growing up in southern NSW, Townsend played his junior football with the Leeton Crows from the age of 12 after his best friend convinced him to have a kick.

He didn’t take much time to adapt to the demands of the game, breaking his way into the NSW/ACT Rams side where he was a stand-out in the 2009 NAB AFL Under-16 National Championships.

His performances in that carnival at Coffs Harbour caught the eye of the GWS GIANTS, with the western Sydney club inviting Townsend play with their TAC Cup side.

He went on to excel in nine matches for the GIANTS TAC Cup team in 2010, averaging 17 disposals a game in a season that saw him named runner-up in the club’s inaugural Best and Fairest Award.

Townsend’s talent and work ethic in the 2010 season saw him rewarded with selection in the AIS-AFL Academy squad, a feat made all the more remarkable considering he was the only player from NSW or the ACT to be picked.

Selected again for the Under-18 NSW/ACT Rams side, Townsend continued to impress the right judges, resulting in him being officially signed by the GIANTS, an achievement that made him just the second player to graduate from the club’s TAC Cup side onto their AFL list.

Townsend said there are more opportunities around now for young players wanting to make their mark in the AFL than ever before, attributing that to the work of not only the GIANTS but other clubs in the competition.

“I was fortunate enough to have the GIANTS and the Suns come in at the same time as my draft age so I was fortunate there,” said Townsend.

“All the work that the GIANTS and Suns and Swans and everyone’s doing in the academies and stuff, the kids coming through have development coaches and programs in place to help them make their way onto an AFL list which is good to see.

“Having two new sides coming into the comp has boosted the chances of kids coming through so there’s an extra 100 spots there on a list.

“The opportunities they have now are greater than what they have been in the past four or five years.”

Townsend has certainly grabbed his opportunity with both hands, making his AFL debut in Round 1 of 2012 and notching up 11 senior appearances for the GIANTS during the year, averaging eight disposals and three tackles a game.

So good were the efforts he produced that he was awarded the Coaches Award at the inaugural GIANTS’ Best and Fairest night for his fierce determination and uncompromising approach to the game.

Townsend said it was a highlight to be recognised by Sheedy, someone he regards as one of the greatest coaches the game has ever seen.

“The coaches award was a fairly high achievement I thought because it comes from Kevin Sheedy who is probably the best coach to ever coach,” said Townsend.

“This year, Sheeds has said ‘just keep doing what you’re doing’ and telling me to keep working on the areas of my game that I need to improve in which I am, I’m just trying to play as much footy as I can at the moment.”

Townsend has gone on to play eight matches so far in 2013, primarily in a tagging role, and has shown why he is so highly regarded among the GIANTS’ inner sanctum.

In Round 6, he did an excellent job in restricting Essendon captain and reigning Brownlow Medallist, Jobe Watson, to just 21 disposals, while in their match against Port Adelaide in Round 12, the young gun accumulated 18 possessions of his own.

The 20-year old was optimistic about the future prospects of AFL in the state, saying the work that the GIANTS were doing was helping to grow the reputation of the sport, particularly in Sydney.

“Where I’m from it was always big, but now the GIANTS academies are taking place up in western Sydney, and when the GIANTS came up here in the NEAFL they were doing appearances in schools in western Sydney.

“No-one knew who we were or what we were from or what code we were from, but now going to schools, everyone knows us, and it’s starting to become more well-known.

“It comes down to the club expanding and also us GIANTS players ourselves have had to go out there and expand our club.

“Sheeds has been a fairly big driver for that, he’s always out getting our club out there, trying to find sponsors and doing that sort of thing so he’s been fantastic for the club in that way.”

If his efforts to date are anything to go by, supporters can look forward to seeing much more of Jacob Townsend in the future.