Richmond mature-age recruit Jacob Townsend isn’t letting an interruption to the start of his first pre-season with the Tigers interfere with his plans for 2016.

Townsend, who was traded to Richmond from Greater Western Sydney in October, has been hampered by a minor ankle injury and placed on a restricted training program.

But the tough, inside midfielder expects to be ready to throw himself into the full pre-season regime at Tigerland within a couple of weeks.

“It’s been a bit frustrating coming to a new club and you want to make a pretty good impression the way you attack the pre-season, but it’s been pushed back a bit,” Townsend told Wagga’s ‘Daily Advertiser’.

The 22-year-old has renewed an association with former Giants assistant coach Mark ‘Choco’ Williams, who is now Richmond’s senior development coach.

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Townsend revealed that Williams rang him as soon as his trade to the Tigers was completed.

“I’ve sat down with him and we put together some pre-season targets to hit,” Townsend said.

 “Hopefully I can achieve those and be there for the first pre-season game (against Fremantle in Mandurah, WA, on February 18).

“Hopefully I can play some good footy in the pre-season, and the goal is to play the first round against Carlton.”

Townsend, who played 28 senior league games in four seasons with GWS, revealed that the move to Richmond has boosted his confidence.

 “When a club says there’s a contract for you, they’re obviously keen,” he said.

“And they’ve shown in the past, the Tigers, that they recruit players that fit their team well and they think can play in their side in certain positions.”

Townsend has identified several areas of improvement in his game that he’s keen to work on . . .

“My handballing in tight and my clearance work . . . And, in the AFL games I’ve played I’ve been a bit inconsistent, so I’ll try to improve there,” he said.