RICHMOND premiership player Jacob Townsend will attempt to reignite his career at a third AFL club after being thrown a lifeline by Essendon.
In a move that was first reported by AFL.com.au, the 26-year-old, who was delisted by the reigning premier, signed with the Bombers during the Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period (SSP).
A childhood Essendon fan, Townsend is expected to add greater flexibility to the Dons with his ability to play as a bash-and-crash inside midfielder and as a defensive forward capable of kicking bags of goals, just as he did during his remarkable renaissance in 2017 when he became a Tigers premiership hero.
Bombers list and recruiting manager Adrian Dodoro was excited by the possibilities.
"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," 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."
https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-12-04/bombers-boost-forward-stocks-with-flag-hero-joining-the-club
