Jacob Townsend Biography

Jacob Townsend says he is at peace with his career coming to an end.

Townsend had been delisted by Gold Coast at the end of the season but invited to train with the Suns over summer as part of the pre-season supplemental selection period in a bid to win his place back on the list. It was an invitation he declined.

"I've got the next phase already planned out and I'm really keen for that so that was why I chose not to take up that offer. I was still keen to play AFL footy if they picked me up in the rookie draft but unfortunately they didn’t and I thought the time was right," he said.

"It was a tough call because everyone's always saying, 'You're a long time retired', which I completely get, but I've been fighting for my spot the last four years and I wanted a bit of certainty."

Gold Coast select Jacob Townsend with pick No.5 in the 2020 Rookie Draft.

Essendon delist Jacob Townsend and Henry Crauford.

Martin Gleeson and Dylan Clarke have also been cut from the Bombers' list, but with the promise of being re-rookied in the upcoming 2020 Rookie Draft.

Jacob Townsend admits to being frustrated with the suspension of the 2020 AFL season (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) after hoping to establish himself at his new team, Essendon.

"I'd trained all pre-season at a brand new club and forced myself into the side for the first game and played OK, so I was keen on having a good start to the year," Townsend said.

"But now that's been put on hold I'll wait and see until we're back and keep doing what I was doing."

Since the AFL imposed its suspension of the 2020 AFL season (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Jacob Townsend is among five Bombers, alongside Jake Stringer, Shaun McKernan, Jayden Laverde and Kyle Langford, to have started a work placement with Border Express, the delivery and shipping company which is a corporate partner of the club.

The players have generally been at Border Express' headquarters for night shifts beginning at 5pm and finishing at 10.30pm, gaining an insight into work away from the football field.

"For the first week after the games stopped, I was driving myself insane," Townsend said.

"They were keen to help as soon as they heard we were keen to do something with our time and to see what the real world's like as well.

"We train and play footy every day nearly so it's nice to be able to put on another hat and see what other guys do in their lives."

Jacob Townsend signs Bombers as part of the 2019 Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period (SSP).

"Jacob will provide us with a really hard edge. He is a player that is really combative, and we felt that we needed these attributes in our line-up," Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro said.

"Jacob has the ability to apply pressure in our forward line, but we are also confident that he can play inside as a big-bodied midfielder.

"The focus for us was to find experienced players during this period and we believe Jacob can play a great role and have an instant impact at the club."

Richmond delist Jacob Townsend, Callum Moore and Connor Menadue.

Richmond select Jacob Townsend with pick No.32 in the 2018 Rookie Draft.

Jacob Townsend is delisted by Richmond but has been offered the chance to remain at the club as a rookie.

Townsend fell out of the AFL side three times this season before breaking his lower left leg in the final VFL game of the year and requiring surgery.

"We would love for Jacob to remain at Richmond and he knows there is a spot for him at the club," Tigers football manager Neil Balme said.

"He is well within his rights as a delisted free agent to look for new opportunities and should they arise, we will support his decision."

The future of Jacob Townsend remains uncertain but both Richmond and player are comfortable with how the situation is placed.

Tigers are reported to be happy to retain Townsend if he wants to stay but have encouraged him to explore his options, especially if he can secure a longer term and the likelihood of more game time elsewhere.

If Townsend opts to remain at Richmond, he could potentially be re-drafted as a rookie.

Jacob Townsend accepts he'll likely have to wait until the end of the Trade Period to know if his future is at Punt Road.

"There could be a fair few changes with players that come and go, like any other team [has], and I think I'll just have to wait and see who comes before anything is done," Townsend said.

"Being the type of player I am and with my experience, I think it will be at the back end of trade period so I'll have to wait and see."

Jacob Townsend won't be part of the Tigers' 2018 premiership defence after he undergoes surgery on a fractured fibula.

The 25-year-old injured his left ankle in a tackle during the first quarter of the Tigers' VFL win over Frankston and failed to the return to the field.

"He suffered a fractured fibula from the game … that's his season over, unfortunately," Richmond's physical performance manager Peter Burge said.

"It's really disappointing, it's probably an eight-to-10-week situation from the surgery, so really now it's just about getting himself right for pre-season."

Jacob Townsend signs a new deal with Richmond to remain at the club in 2018.

"Jacob played a significant role for the team in all our finals games, none more so than the Grand Final," Tigers list manager Dan Richardson said.

"He is a strong competitor and, having found his niche up forward, we expect he will continue to build on this in 2018 and beyond."

Following Richmond's premiership victory, Jacob Townsend spotted Richmond development coach Xavier Clarke in the jam-packed Tiger rooms on Saturday night and made a beeline for him.

They embraced, and Townsend had two words for him: "Thank you." Clarke had prophetically told him, during his frustrating run stuck in the VFL, that he could play in an AFL Grand Final.

"I wasn't sure what I'd be doing (next year) in round 21 in the AFL – I was looking for jobs, looking for a carpentry job – and now I'm a premiership player," Townsend said.

"The feeling's amazing. I can't really put it into words. The change of fortunes in about a month or so has been amazing."

Jacob Townsend wins the J.J. Liston Trophy as Richmond's best and fairest player in the VFL.

Townsend, 24, had to bide his time until the penultimate round of the AFL season to break into the Tigers' senior side despite outstanding form at VFL level.

But the former Giant hasn't looked back, kicking 13 goals in three AFL matches, including two in Richmond's stunning 51-point qualifying final thrashing of Geelong at the MCG.

"About three or four weeks ago, I wasn't expecting to be playing AFL footy and be kicking goals and playing in a pretty good side that's playing in a prelim," he said.

"It's always fun to be, not getting the media attention, but to be spoken about, so it's been good.

"I was just focused on playing good, consistent footy all year and if a chance came to be playing ones, then if I was playing well enough, I'd be picked."

Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton declares Jacob Townsend "the toughest player in the AFL" after the young forward's 6-goal effort against Fremangle.

Townsend said the Brereton had taken a shine to him during their time together at Greater Western Sydney.

"Derm has always had a few nice things to say about me, even back at my time at the Giants," Townsend said.

"I don't think that's true, though, there's a lot of tough players out there, but it's always nice to hear that from a great of the game like Derm."

Richmond's round one preparations have been thrown into a tailspin after four key players suffered injuries in the Tigers' 48-point NAB Challenge loss to Port Adelaide.

The Tigers were left licking their wounds at Etihad Stadium as Shane Edwards, Shaun Grigg, Reece Conca and Jacob Townsend were all cut down.

Edwards suffered an apparent collarbone injury at the end of the first quarter and was sent for scans with his left arm in a sling.

Grigg then suffered a hand injury while Townsend left the ground on a stretcher after leading with his head to tackle Hamish Hartlett.

Conca suffered his fourth hamstring injury in the past 12 month.

Jacob Townsend will be sidelined for a month with a foot injury.

Townsend pulled up sore after Saturday's NAB Challenge victory over Gold Coast and will wear a moon boot for the next fortnight with bone bruising.

North Melbourne forward Lindsay Thomas will miss the next two matches after the club decides not to contest his headbutting charge against Giant Jacob Townsend.

"It was a silly thing to do and I've got to pay the consequences now and miss two games. That's the most disappointing thing," Thomas said.

"I just let the boys know how disappointed I was in myself, and I'll do everything I can to get their respect back."

Lindsay Thomas looks set to be scrutinized by the Match Review Panel for a headbutt on Giant Jacob Townsend.

Jacob Townsend makes his AFL debut for GWS at Stadium Australia with 9 disposals (6 kicks and 3 handballs), 2 marks and 4 tackles in a 63-point loss to Sydney.