Grant Birchall
Hawthorn and Brisbane
AFL career
287 games36 goals
- Debut
- R1 2006 v FRE2 Apr 2006
- Most recent
- SF 2021 v WBD4 Sept 2021
Stats
2021 | BRL | 23 | 13.3 | 5.1 | 18.5 | 6.9 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 75 | 71 |
2020 | BRL | 16 | 9.4 | 3.3 | 12.7 | 4.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 51 | 70 |
2019 | HAW | 3 | 11.7 | 9.0 | 20.7 | 5.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 73 | 77 |
2017 | HAW | 5 | 11.8 | 7.2 | 19.0 | 5.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 69 | 63 |
2016 | HAW | 24 | 13.3 | 9.7 | 22.9 | 6.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 82 | 83 |
2015 | HAW | 22 | 14.5 | 8.3 | 22.8 | 5.5 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 83 | 86 |
2014 | HAW | 25 | 13.8 | 9.9 | 23.6 | 5.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 82 | 88 |
2013 | HAW | 17 | 14.1 | 9.8 | 23.9 | 4.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 83 | 94 |
2012 | HAW | 23 | 13.8 | 9.4 | 23.2 | 5.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 84 | 91 |
2011 | HAW | 24 | 14.3 | 9.4 | 23.8 | 7.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 90 | 94 |
2010 | HAW | 21 | 11.0 | 8.6 | 19.6 | 5.4 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 77 | 80 |
2009 | HAW | 19 | 10.5 | 10.9 | 21.4 | 5.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 75 | 81 |
2008 | HAW | 25 | 11.2 | 10.6 | 21.9 | 6.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 81 | 85 |
2007 | HAW | 24 | 12.2 | 9.0 | 21.1 | 6.4 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 80 | 85 |
2006 | HAW | 16 | 10.8 | 8.5 | 19.3 | 5.4 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 70 | - |
WBD | Gabba | SF | 12 | 6 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 64 | 62 | 0 | 4 |
MEL | AO | FW1 | 13 | 2 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 58 | 84 | 0 | 6 |
WCE | Gabba | R23 | 13 | 4 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 72 | 61 | 0 | 2 |
COL | Gabba | R22 | 13 | 4 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 | 72 | 74 | 0 | 4 |
FRE | OS | R21 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 68 | 92 | 0 | 2 |
HAW | UTAS | R20 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 70 | 54 | 0 | 1 |
GCS | Gabba | R19 | 13 | 5 | 18 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 74 | 43 | 0 | 0 |
RCH | MS | R18 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 72 | 74 | 0 | 4 |
STK | MS | R17 | 14 | 4 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 | 81 | 61 | 0 | 3 |
ADE | AO | R16 | 14 | 11 | 25 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 86 | 97 | 0 | 3 |
NTH | BA | R14 | 15 | 7 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 68 | 101 | 0 | 1 |
MEL | GS | R12 | 16 | 2 | 18 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 90 | 68 | 0 | 4 |
GWS | Gabba | R11 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 46 | 46 | 0 | 3 |
RCH | Gabba | R10 | 13 | 2 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 66 | 48 | 0 | 2 |
GCS | MS | R9 | 19 | 7 | 26 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 110 | 112 | 0 | 2 |
FRE | Gabba | R8 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 83 | 89 | 0 | 4 |
PAD | Gabba | R7 | 18 | 7 | 25 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 106 | 94 | 0 | 6 |
CAR | MS | R6 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 53 | 43 | 0 | 4 |
ESS | Gabba | R5 | 15 | 3 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 77 | 73 | 0 | 5 |
WBD | MRS | R4 | 18 | 3 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 81 | 67 | 0 | 4 |
COL | MS | R3 | 14 | 8 | 22 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 94 | 79 | 0 | 2 |
GEE | GMHBA | R2 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 74 | 59 | 0 | 3 |
SYD | Gabba | R1 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 49 | 50 | 0 | 3 |
Bio
Recruited from Tasmania with pick 14 in the 2005 National Draft, Grant Birchall quickly cemented his spot in Hawthorn's backline and became the prototype for the modern rebounding defender. Characterised by a smooth, deceptively fast running style and a damaging left foot, he was often the designated distributor who launched attacks from the half-back flank. His efficiency and composure were integral to Alastair Clarkson's system, earning him 2012 All-Australian honours and making him a key pillar in four premiership sides (2008, 2013, 2014, and 2015).
After a decade of durability, Birchall's final years at Hawthorn were derailed by persistent knee and soft tissue injuries, restricting him to just eight appearances between 2017 and 2019. Seeking a fresh start and a change of medical environment, he exercised his rights as an unrestricted free agent to join the Brisbane Lions for the 2020 season. The move reunited him with former Hawthorn football boss Chris Fagan and teammate Luke Hodge, allowing Birchall to finish his career as a stabilising veteran presence in a young Lions defence before retiring in 2021.
Profile
- Born
- 28 Jan 1988 (age 38y 266d)
- Birthplace
- Devonport, TAS
- Height
- 193 cm
- Weight
- 91 kg
Teams
Honours
- Premiership(4×) 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015
- All-Australian2012
- Hawthorn B&F
- 2nd
- 2014
- 3rd
- 2011, 2012
- Top 10
- 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Tasmania with pick 14 in the 2005 National Draft, Grant Birchall quickly cemented his spot in Hawthorn's backline and became the prototype for the modern rebounding defender. Characterised by a smooth, deceptively fast running style and a damaging left foot, he was often the designated distributor who launched attacks from the half-back flank. His efficiency and composure were integral to Alastair Clarkson's system, earning him 2012 All-Australian honours and making him a key pillar in four premiership sides (2008, 2013, 2014, and 2015).
After a decade of durability, Birchall's final years at Hawthorn were derailed by persistent knee and soft tissue injuries, restricting him to just eight appearances between 2017 and 2019. Seeking a fresh start and a change of medical environment, he exercised his rights as an unrestricted free agent to join the Brisbane Lions for the 2020 season. The move reunited him with former Hawthorn football boss Chris Fagan and teammate Luke Hodge, allowing Birchall to finish his career as a stabilising veteran presence in a young Lions defence before retiring in 2021.