RIVERINA’S recent dominance in the JJ Liston Trophy continued on Tuesday night when Leeton footballer Jacob Townsend won the distinguished award.
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Townsend edged out Coolamon’s Mick Gibbons by two votes to win the trophy for the best and fairest player in the VFL.
Townsend, who enjoyed a stellar season with Richmond, polled 18 votes ahead of last year’s winner, Gibbons, of Williamstown, on 16.
Howlong’s Anthony Miles, also at Richmond, also finished on the leaderboard.
The Liston Trophy win is the latest highlight in what has been a dream month for Townsend.
After spending 14 months in the wilderness, the 24-year-old was recalled to the Tigers' senior line-up in round 22 this year against Fremantle.
Townsend took his chance with both hands as he booted six goals in Richmond's 104-point demolition of the Dockers.
Not content with that dazzling performance, the following week against St Kilda, he slammed home another five goals to help the Tigers to a comfortable 41-point win.
His impeccably timed purple patch of form saw him keep his spot for Richmond's qualifying final against Geelong. He kicked another couple of goals in that game as the Tigers steamrolled the Cats by 51 points.
Incredibly, prior to round 22 Townsend had never kicked more than one goal in an AFL game.
The former Giant's Liston Trophy triumph was powered by best-on-ground performances against Sandringham (round two), Geelong (round nine) and Casey (round 12).