Jacob Townsend joins AIS elite

Leeton’s Jacob Townsend has capped off a remarkable year in AFL (NSW/ACT)’s Talented Player Program by being selected in the AIS-AFL Academy.

The Australian Institute of Sport’s AFL Academy has a proud honour board consisting of 17 premiership players, two Norm Smith medallists and a Brownlow medallist – Carlton skipper Chris Judd.

Townsend, 17, was a member of the southern NSW talent team, the Stingrays, and played a pivotal role for the under 18 RAMS in the NAB National Championships earlier this year.

It is a fantastic achievement for Townsend and a testament to the Talented Player Program (TPP) that a pathway is available for players to reach their AFL potential.

This year alone, at least 13 players from the TPP were picked up by AFL Clubs on NSW scholarships while another five players were recruited by Team GWS.

Townsend said it is a dream come true to be chosen alongside the best 29 players from Australia.

“I am very excited, I am still shocked that I was the only kid chosen from the state,” he said.

While Townsend has been recognised as one of the AFL’s emerging players, the story of how he got there is a fitting reward for the time and effort spent on and off the football field.

Under 16 NSW/ACT RAMS coach Danny Stevens said Townsend was “bitterly disappointed” after not performing the way he would have liked when playing for his state last year.

“I spoke to him after the under 16 Nationals and reassured him that he’s got the skills and talent and credit to Jacob he worked hard and he turned his footy right around over the summer,” Stevens said. 

Townsend’s improvements were immediately noticed as he put in an impressive performance at the Joss State Zone Trials earlier this year and was rewarded further by playing in Team GWS’ inaugural TAC Cup side and now making the AIS-AFL Academy.

2010 NAB AFL Rising Star nominees Jordan Gysberts, Tom Scully, Jake Melksham and Michael Hurley were all graduates of the AIS-AFL Academy in recent years. 

Townsend said the TPP helped prepare him for his selection in the AIS-AFL Academy but admits the hard work doesn’t stop now.

“It’s really up to me, the AIS Academy has only gotten me so far but I’ve got to put in the hard work still and do everything right. The year ahead will be very exciting and challenging. I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

“The TPP is very professional, it is extremely beneficial to be working with the coaches, Nick Stevens, [Danny Stevens] and Rohan Smith – who played AFL at the highest level for a long period of time.”

AIS-AFL Academy High Performance Coach Jason McCartney said one of the important elements of the AIS Academy is the tour, which is to take place in Europe next year.

“The 14th intake will travel to Europe in April 2011 where they will attend the AIS elite training centre in Italy, followed by London where they will play a match and finally Turkey, where they will attend the ANZAC day service,” he said.

“The squad will also participate in matches in Melbourne to mark the beginning and completion of the tour. 

“The aim of the tour will be to build on both the players’ physical and personal development; preparing them for life in the AFL, both on and off the field.”

The trip will be even more special for Townsend given he has never travelled overseas before.

All inductees will attend their first camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Melbourne during 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final week from Wednesday, September 22 to Sunday, September 26.