Who won the Townsend trade?Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Source: SportsFan
Author: Ben HockingThe big questionOne of the least visible trades done so far this exchange period involves the move of Jacob Townsend from GWS to Richmond in exchange for the Tigers' fourth-round draft pick (currently pick No.70). The Tigers are no strangers to spotting unwanted GWS talent, having picked up Giants discard Anthony Miles in the 2013 draft. They obviously haven't paid a high price for Townsend, but have they got another success story or have they bought a list-clogger?
Giants winThis is a difficult one to spin. Townsend only played one game for the Giants this year and the club was genuinely trying to find him a new club so that he could continue his career, rather than being cut and disappear into obscurity. It is the sort of list management that holds you in good stead with players and player managers, who can see you care about their welfare, rather than picking players up, using them and throwing them on the scrap heap when they are no longer required. It is hard to see the Giants even using pick No.70 in this year's draft.
Tigers winThe Tigers are the kings of recycling unwanted talent. Miles, Bachar Houli, Ivan Maric, Shaun Grigg, Troy Chaplin and Taylor Hunt can all attest to that. In Townsend they have picked up a player they clearly think will add something to their list for next to nothing, and avoided another club potentially poaching him in the draft (assuming the Giants were planning on cutting him loose). The Tigers managed to finish inside the eight with a game-plan that didn't require a great deal of tackling last season, but having a player prepared to put his head over the ball and make his opponents accountable is something the Tigers lack, and Townsend will at least add something different in that regard.
Our verdictTownsend is the real winner here, getting to continue his career with a club looking to play in its fourth straight finals series, rather than having to wait anxiously to see if any of the other clubs would take a punt on him in the draft. Richmond have done well to pick up for practically nothing a player that targets an area they are deficient in, but these trades that involve finding players new clubs so they can continue their careers elsewhere ensure that virtually everyone is a winner.
http://www.sportsfan.com.au/who-won-the-townsend-trade/tabid/91/newsid/178343/default.aspx?cid=SF_LOWDOWN_AFL_article_whowonthetownsendtrade_211015