Giants’ AFL backs must be smart: Corr

Greater Western Sydney back Aidan Corr would relish the chance to spend time on old teammate and new Richmond scoring threat Jacob Townsend in their AFL preliminary final clash.

Townsend has been a revelation in his new forward role at the Tigers, kicking 13 goals in their last three games.

Deployed as an inside midfielder and tagger by the Giants, Townsend kicked just four goals in 28 games over four seasons with GWS.

He played just four matches for the Tigers in his first season there in 2016 and had to wait till round 22 for his first senior appearance this year.

Played up forward, the 23-year-old promptly kicked bags of six and five goals in successive weeks against Fremantle and St Kilda respectively.

He booted two more in the qualifying final win over Geelong, for a tally of 13 goals from just 21 kicks over the three games.

“(At GWS) he was definitely a midfield hard nut,” Corr said.

“He kicked a few goals in the NEAFL, but I don’t think he kicked a bag of five or six, like he has been doing.

“He’s a great fellow, he was a good mate of mine when he was here, so I’m happy to see him go so well, but hopefully this weekend we can take him down.

“Hopefully I’ll get my hands on Jacob, that would be fun.”

The Giants back line will face a very different challenge against Richmon’d’s mosquito fleet after curbing West Coast’s taller attack last week.

“West Coast had the three key talls and we had three key tall backs,” Corr said.

“They (Richmond) have got pretty much just Jack (Riewoldt as a tall forward).

“Jacob Townsend is a bit of a marking target and Josh Caddy; they are medium-sized.

“You’ve just got to do your research early. You’ve got to make more decisions if you play on a small player.

“If the ball is coming in high, you can’t fly every time, so we’ve just got to make smart decisions.”

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