DOB: 16 June 1943
Debut: Round 11, 1962 against Hawthorn at Glenferrie Oval
Last Game: Round 18, 1972 against Carlton at MCG
From: St Patrick's College, Sale
Number: 16 (1962-1972)
Honours:
Premiership Player - 1964
Best and Fairest - 1965, 1969
Leading Goalkicker - 1964, 1965
150 Heroes selection
Best First Year Player - 1962
Life Member - 1971
Night Series winner 1971
Games: 153
Goals: 182
Career Statistics
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
| 73 | 1 | 79 | 47.71 |
Despite playing six senior games in his first year, and winning the Best First Year Player award, Townsend still finished runner-up in the Reserves Best and Fairest award.
He became a regular in 1962 and from there the goalkicking rover won a premiership, a Best and Fairest and was leading goalkicker twice. A serious knee injury in a social game shortly after the 1965 season derailed his career, restricting him to seven games over the next two seasons. His start to 1966 was derailed by the knee injury and Townsend initially opted to sit out for the season before returning to training a month later. Townsend played in Round 9, before his knee broke down again.
With his career on the line, Townsend had an operation to graft ligament into his knee. He played Reserves in early 1967, but was injured again and didn't return to the seniors until midway through the year. He played nine games for the season. Townsend played 16 games in 1968 and won a second B&F in 1969. He played for Melbourne until 1972.
Townsend finished his career with Prahran in the VFA where he played in a premiership in his first season, coached them from 1975 to 1976 and was named in their team of the century. He later coached a local club in Noosa.
His brother Garry also trained in the 1962 pre-season.
| Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
| 1962 | 6 | 7 | 0 |
| 1963 | 19 | 22 | 0 |
| 1964 | 20 | 35 | 4 |
| 1965 | 18 | 34 | 0 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| 1968 | 16 | 15 | 0 |
| 1969 | 20 | 16 | 2 |
| 1970 | 17 | 14 | 0 |
| 1971 | 18 | 25 | 1 |
| 1972 | 12 | 9 | 0 |
Lists
VFA
Media
Age - 19/03/1962, 09/04/1966, 20/04/1966, 15/06/1966, 24/06/1966
Herald - 07/1967
Links
Boyles Football Photos
Demonwiki image gallery
VFA Project profile
Wikipedia profile