While the premiership celebrations continue for the Crows, eyes will now turn to Saturday’s AFL grand final where Leeton will be represented by Jacob Townsend.

Townsend will be part of the Richmond team out to end a drought of their own when the Tigers take on Adelaide Crows on the AFL’s biggest stage.

Long-time Leeton-Whitton player and official David Meline said it is an exciting time for the community.

“It is massive and there is just such a buzz around,” Meline said.

“The way it worked out, we were going to have one Jacob in the grand final, either Hopper or Townsend and the whole town is on the Tigers now.”

Meline said the Crows’ premiership celebrations after a 39-year wait had been exceptional.

“It’s been unbelievable,” he said.

“It’s obviously been a long time but it’s been fantastic.”

Meline coached Townsend in the under 14s after he switched from rugby union and said he could tell straight away that he had something special with his toughness.

Townsend went on to make his senior debut at 15.

Jarrod Gornall coached Townsend for two years and knew early on he was destined for bigger things.

“He was a freakish kid,” Gornall said.

“Just his aggression even in those early days, and his want to compete around the footy stood out over the other kids his age.”

Leeton mayor Paul Maytom declared it one of the town’s most successful sporting years with the Crows and Leeton Phantoms both breaking long droughts, and the Greens winning a couple of lower grade premierships in Group 20.