AFL star gives awesome TV interview to confront fears

A footy star has given one of the best post-match interviews this season, confronting his fears in an inspiring 44-second clip.

Gold Coast Suns star Jacob Townsend has given one of the best post-match interviews of the year when he spoke to Fox Footy following his team’s big win over Carlton.

Making his debut with the Suns, Townsend made an immediate impact and finished with two goals.

His performance made him the man every fan wanted to hear from and he delivered in inspirational fashion.

Townsend spoke with a stutter in the interview - something he has rarely spoken about previously.

The 28-year-old had previously admitted to declining interviews as a result of the stutter he has always had, but it’s not anything that has impacted on his confidence for many, many years.

Jacob Townsend's interview after the Suns' win over Carlton.

“Obviously it was a pretty good moment. I just wanted to come in and play my role,” he said after the game in a 44-second interview with Fox Footy’s Kath Loughnan on the field.

“We’ve had a tough week. Obviously last week isn’t what we wanted to put out there so we had a tough week on the training track and we wanted to get a good win and I thought that we did that.

When asked about the uncertain future of coach Stuart Dew, Townsend said: “He’s been under the pump and he hasn’t had much to do with our performances.

“It’s all us out there.”

Mad respect to Jacob Townsend for doing the post game interview. Means a lot to see someone with a stutter speak so confidently to the media. #AFLBluesSuns#AFL@[e-mail]/BDahOrgcU2

— Josh Solomonsz (@JoshSolomonsz) August 7, 2021

Townsend has previously explained he has had the stutter as long as he can remember.

In an interview with The Herald Sun during a breakout season in 2017, Townsend admitted to declining some interviews as a result of his stutter.

“I know what to say and how to say it, but can’t say it,” he said.

Stuttering affected his confidence as a child.

Jacob Townsend was on fire.

“Definitely. I didn’t talk much, didn’t want to talk much. Even now, talking to mates, I know when I’m going to stutter before I even do it, so I won’t say what I’m going to say.

“If we’re having a conversation about something and I know some facts to add to the conversation, and if I know I’m going to stutter, I won’t say it and I won’t try to say it. There’s the frustration.

“I could talk to you now and I could do it once or twice, but if I see you tomorrow it might be 10 times worse.

“Sometimes when I’m comfortable and calm it doesn’t ­really come as much, but when I’m anxious or put on the spot a bit more it does.

“I’m good right now but, if you put a camera there — even if it’s not live, but I know the camera’s there — I’d go to s***.”

Once again, he made his performance on the field night the real reason people are talking about him.