The Gold Coast SUNS have drafted Jacob Townsend with pick 5 in the 2020 NAB AFL Rookie Draft.
Townsend joins the club with 60 games of AFL experience after most recently playing 12 games for Essendon in 2020.
Prior to that he played 20 games for Richmond from 2016-19, including the Tigers’ 2017 premiership, after originally beginning his career with GWS in 2012.
Townsend said he was thrilled to be given the opportunity to help the SUNS on their journey.
“I’m really looking forward to getting here and meeting all the boys and hopefully I’m here for a long time,” Townsend said.
“There’s a couple of boys up here which I already know which will make it a bit easier so I’m looking forward to that.
“This list is a pretty young list so I’m looking forward to coming in and trying to show them a few things which I’ve learnt over the years both on and off field.”
Gold Coast SUNS National Recruiting Manager Kall Burns said Townsend would bring valuable experience to the club.
“We’re really happy to be able to secure a quality person like Jacob in the rookie draft and we know he will be a great addition to our group,” Burns said.
“Jacob has been in the AFL system for nine years, is a premiership player and has experience at the highest level which complements our list.”
The news comes after the SUNS took Elijah Hollands with pick 7 in the NAB AFL Draft last night and pre-selected four Academy players; Alex Davies, Joel Jeffrey, Rhys Nicholls and Aiden Fyfe yesterday morning.
The SUNS also re-drafted Jack Hombsch and Jordan Murdoch to the rookie list.
The SUNS have now filled the 2021 list with 38 senior players, nine category A rookies and two category B rookies.
