They embraced, and Townsend had two words for him: "Thank you." Clarke had prophetically told him, during his frustrating run stuck in the VFL, that he could play in an AFL Grand Final.
"I wasn't sure what I'd be doing (next year) in round 21 in the AFL – I was looking for jobs, looking for a carpentry job – and now I'm a premiership player," Townsend said.
"The feeling's amazing. I can't really put it into words. The change of fortunes in about a month or so has been amazing."