SOMETHING remarkable happened to Jacob Townsend on Monday night.

The shy kid from rugby-obsessed Leeton in New South Wales' Riverina region had only days earlier bravely discussed, in a News Corp article, his ever-present stutter.

It wasn't new for anyone who knows him, because it isn't something he can hide despite no lack of trying. He sometimes chooses listening over engaging in conversations to avoid speaking in front of others.

Then came the VFL's night of nights at the Crown Palladium this week. The J.J. Liston Trophy count was reaching a crescendo, and player-manager and MC Nigel Carmody announced, with a round to go, Townsend could not be beaten.

The 24-year-old Tiger knew what that meant: he would have to get up on stage and speak in front of hundreds of people.

"I was actually pretty calm and collected as soon as I found out I was going to win it, when I couldn't get overtaken," Townsend said.

"I wasn't sure how I spoke or anything, because I wasn't really paying attention to myself, but I was actually calm and maybe me talking about (my speech impediment) … might have helped me a bit when I had to go up there."

Townsend's life is unrecognisable from a month ago, when he was coming to terms with the possibility he might, for the first time in his six-year AFL career, fail to play a senior game. It could have ended there.

But Josh Caddy's hamstring injury in round 21 proved the stroke of fortune Townsend needed, finally giving him the chance he craved so badly.

His response is now part of the Richmond fairytale, with 13 goals in three matches, including two in the 51-point qualifying final thumping of Geelong in front of a 95,000-strong MCG crowd.

"It's obviously been good and (an experience) I'm going to cherish for a lifetime, coming from a small town and now playing in front of 95,000," Townsend said.

"We came out first and that was loud, then when the Cats came out, you couldn't hear their team song, because of all the boos. The Tiger Army, as they call it, is obviously big and a very passionate bunch of fans." 

Jacob Townsend with his J.J. Liston Trophy. Picture: AFL Photos

The writing was on the wall for Townsend late last year, with established midfielders Dion Prestia and Caddy arriving at Punt Rd from the Gold Coast and Geelong respectively.

Townsend, purely an inside midfielder then, had already struggled to earn just four AFL games in his first season with Richmond after crossing from Greater Western Sydney. An honest discussion with the Tigers' coaching staff hammered the point home.

"If I was going to be playing a game in the ones, it would be more forward than coming into the middle," he said.

Townsend, never one to duck a challenge, set about thriving in his new role as a de facto key forward at just 187cm, while still spending time in the midfield.

Richmond's VFL and forwards coach Craig McRae and development coach Xavier Clarke, as well as Townsend's "crew" – teammates Anthony Miles, Sam Lloyd and Taylor Hunt – became his greatest assets.

McRae is rapt for Townsend and raves about his marking ability, which was on show late in last week's final when he outmarked the similarly sized Jed Bews on the goal line.

Less hailed but just as valuable as his scoreboard impact was his nullifying jobs on relative giants Michael Johnson, Jake Carlisle and Lachie Henderson.

McRae's sole complaint, with tongue firmly in cheek, was he wouldn't have Townsend at his disposal as the VFL Tigers also strive to win the premiership.

"He's pretty shy; the spotlight doesn't shine on him like others that like it," McRae said.

"He goes about his business really well and he's a hard trainer and uncompromising in his attack on the ball.

"I was going to ask 'Dimma' (Damien Hardwick) if he can play (in the VFL preliminary final) – he wants to play – but I think he's well entrenched in the AFL at the moment, so that's a high priority for him and the team."

Townsend is suddenly a man in demand, and the spotlight is suiting him just fine.