LEETON’S Jacob Townsend will realise a childhood dream this weekend when he becomes the town’s first player to ever line up in an AFL grand final.
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Townsend will pull on the boots for Richmond, who are hoping to break a premiership drought when they take on the Adelaide Crows at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday afternoon.
It’s been an amazing end to the season for Townsend, who up until the final two games of the home and away season, hadn’t been selected in the first grade side all year.
His stunning form against Freemantle and St Kilda, where he kicked 11 goals across the two matches, was enough to warrant him selection throughout the finals series.
Prior to that, he had been thinking his AFL career would be over and he would soon be taking up a job as a carpenter.
The dream continued when in recent weeks he was awarded the VFL’s best and fairest league honour.
His father Peter Townsend and mother Denise Campton will be heading to the grand final this weekend and both expressed just how proud they were of their son.
Peter said it had been a strange experience attending matches in recent weeks knowing there was now a cult following behind his son.
“It’s been pretty surreal,” Peter said.
“Jacob has always been a really good kid. He’s never given us any trouble.
“He’s always had a ball in his hand from a young age.”
Townsend has been a revelation for the Tigers in recent weeks, but will no doubt be feeling some nerves ahead of the biggest game of the season.
The town has gotten behind him as celebrations continue for its own drought-breaking premiership at Townsend’s junior club in the Leeton-Whitton Crows.
“He was pretty excited by that,” Peter said.
Townsend started his career with Greater Western Sydney before heading south to Victoria.
Asked what he would say to his son before he took to the field on Saturday afternoon, Peter said he would keep it simple.
“I’d just tell him to keep doing what he’s been doing … it’s worked so far,” Peter said.
“Either way it’s an outstanding achievement.
“People play for years at the AFL level and never get to play in an AFL grand final. It’s a huge moment.
“It’s exciting and it’s big for the club.
“Hopefully they can come away with the premiership.”
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