Grant Birchall

Grant Birchall (born 28 January 1988) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL), having played for the Hawthorn Football Club from 2006 to 2019, including four premiership teams.

Grant Birchall
Birchall playing for Hawthorn in April 2017
Personal information
Full name	Grant Birchall
Date of birth	(1988-01-28) 28 January 1988
Place of birth	Devonport
Original team(s)	Tassie Mariners (TAC Cup)
Draft	No. 14, 2005 national draft
Debut	Round 1, 2006, Hawthorn vs. Fremantle, at Aurora Stadium
Height	193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	89 kg (196 lb)
Position(s)	Half-Back Flank
Club information
Current club	Brisbane Lions
Number	14
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2006–2019	Hawthorn	248 (34)
2020–	Brisbane Lions	002 0(0)
Total		250 (34)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of rd 4 2020.
Career highlights
4× AFL Premiership player: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015 All-Australian team: 2012 AFL Rising Star nominee: 2006 Harrison Medal: 2005 Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Birchall had an exceptional first season in 2006 with the Hawthorn, playing 16 games out of a possible 22. The Tasmanian was chosen at pick 14 in the 2005 AFL Draft and made his debut in the number 35 guernsey in Hawthorn's opening match of the season against Fremantle at Aurora Stadium in his home state, Tasmania.

All year, Birchall excelled across half-back for the Hawks, mainly highlighted by an impressive 23 touches in the big loss to St Kilda in round 13 and 27 touches and 10 marks in a sluggish win against the Kangaroos in round 21. To finish off the season, Birchall finished off with his best game yet- a massive 36 touches and 11 marks in the 10-goal win against Geelong.

At season's end, Birchall came sixth in the NAB AFL Rising Star, won Hawthorn's Best First Year Award and was given the number 14 jumper for the 2007 season, left vacant by Harry Miller, who was delisted by Hawthorn at the end of 2006. Grant Birchall attended St Brendan Shaw College in Devonport, Tasmania.

2007 saw Birchall play every game for Hawthorn, and consolidate his role as a running half-back with poise and neat disposal. Many pundits are expecting the low-key young Hawk to make further progress in 2008, possibly including stints further up the ground.

Birchall played in his first AFL Premiership in 2008, when the Hawks defeated reigning premiers Geelong. Birchall lost half of his two front teeth in a collision during the match.[1]

In 2012, Birchall had his best season to date. Birchall averaged 23.1 disposals in his 21 games in the Home and Away season with an incredible disposal efficiency of 85%. Birchall was rewarded with his first All-Australian Guernsey.

Having only missed four of the Hawks’ games over the previous three seasons, Grant Birchall’s durability was struck down in 2017. Birchall managed just five games for the year, first suffering a fractured jaw in round 2 which kept him out for a month. before injuring his posterior cruciate ligament in round 7. Birchall made his return in round 14 before he injured his PCL again the following week, ending his season.

Birchall's nightmare continued through 2018 and he didn't play any football due to a persistent PCL complaint. A late-season push to be available for the finals resulted in an adductor injury.

After 720 days, Birchall made his long-awaited return playing for Hawthorn's VFL affiliate, Box Hill. He had a strong first half with 10 disposals and taking 6 marks before sitting out the second half of the game. Birchall managed the play three games for Hawthorn at the back end of the 2019 season before injuring his hamstring ending his comeback.

Out of contract at the end of 2019, Birchall was asked to shop himself around to see if he could get a better deal than what Hawthorn was willing to offer, Brisbane came up with a deal which he accepted.