THE PLAUDITS came thick and fast after Jacob Townsend's six-goal haul for Richmond against Fremantle last Sunday, but one of the game's greats took the praise of the Tiger to the next level.
While Richmond coach Damien Hardwick labelled Townsend's performance as "impressive", Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton emphatically declared the hard-nosed 24-year-old as "the toughest player in the AFL".
Townsend told AFL.com.au the Hawks hardman took a shine to him during their time together at Greater Western Sydney.
"Derm has always had a few nice things to say about me, even back at my time at the Giants," Townsend said.
"He was a specialist coach working with the key forwards, but we'd always stop for a chat.
"I actually got told by my mum what he said, so it's always nice to be spoken about in that manner.
"I don't think that's true, though, there's a lot of tough players out there, but it's always nice to hear that from a great of the game like Derm."
Townsend knows he can't live on compliments if he wants to survive in the highly-competitive world of AFL football, but his day out against the Dockers not only tripled his career goal tally, it gave the Tigers' match committee a reminder of what he can achieve if he's given the chance.
Last Sunday was Townsend's first senior game of the season, and opportunities have been few and far between at AFL level for the Leeton product. He's played just five games in two seasons at Punt Road after only 28 games across four years at the Giants.
A hamstring injury to teammate Josh Caddy opened up a spot for Townsend in the finals-bound Richmond side, but it's his physical approach – not kicking goals – that is likely to give the tenacious Tiger the best chance of retaining his spot.
"I certainly wasn't expecting to go out there and kick six when I got picked in the side, I was trying to shut down Michael Johnson and I found myself on the end of the play," he said.
"That's the most I've kicked in a game at any level, so it wasn't a bad day.
"I only started playing footy when I was 12, because before that I played rugby. I've always been a fan of tackling blokes hard – I guess it's my calling.
"Hopefully I can keep my place in the side with a good performance against the Saints on Sunday, and make it pretty hard for the coaches to drop me."
For a player who likes it rough and tough, it shouldn't come as a surprise that a career as a tradesman awaits Townsend when his time at the highest level concludes.
Out of contract at season's end, he hopes his days "on the tools" are still a while off yet.
"I'm doing a carpentry course, which I'm pretty passionate about, so when the times comes to hang up the boots I look forward to that," he said.
"But I feel I have plenty more to give with my footy, so every week I'm going to go out there and play my best I can, and hopefully that gets me more games."
