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 didn't line up until Round 9, getting through the initial test ok before and the knee went again during training the following week, putting him out for the rest of the year. He broke down again in the 1967 pre-season, and after returning for a Reserves game early in the year was injured again and didn't play seniors until midway through the season, appearing in just six games.
With his career on the line Townsend underwent an operation to graft ligament into his knee. The operation was a success and he played in the first game of 1968. Townsend returned to form to win his second B&F in 1969 and played 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. After moving to Noosa on the Sunshine Coast he coached a local football club.
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
Age - 09/04/1966
Age - 20/04/1966
Age - 15/06/1966
Age - 24/06/1966
Links
Boyles Football Photos
Demonwiki image gallery
VFA Project profile
Wikipedia profile