Grant Birchall returns after 2 years out...

[Dewnior]

What are you talking about? 38 posts in 4 years and this is where you've planted your flag? Jog on.

One small step for posting, one giant leap for w***ers.

 

[Teamwork Talks]

Will be interesting to see what Clarko does if he gets Birch back and Scrimmers, as well as having to think about what to do with Siss, given the forward spell for him has not worked.

What better learning experience for Scrimshaw than playing alongside Birchall

 

[Hawthorn23]

Another half of footy for Birch - 13 touches and a couple tackles!

Wonder if he will be considered for Friday night against the Pies, would be great to see the great man return with a strong crowd attending!

 

[TylerDurden]

Another half of footy for Birch - 13 touches and a couple tackles!

Wonder if he will be considered for Friday night against the Pies, would be great to see the great man return with a strong crowd attending!

I honestly reckon he plays next week. So do Chad and Scrim.

 

[Hawthorn23]

I honestly reckon he plays next week. So do Chad and Scrim.

Yeah, same here. Would’ve thought the club plays him full minutes today, but only playing him a half with a 6 day break before next week could be telling

 

[Gaston]

Another half of footy for Birch - 13 touches and a couple tackles!

Wonder if he will be considered for Friday night against the Pies, would be great to see the great man return with a strong crowd attending!

What !! Surely you jest

 

[Slick]

Surely he has to run out a full game for Box Hill before he can be considered for the Hawks?

 

[Mr Lizard]

 

[MrPremiership]

Curious why he didn't play more than a half........

 

[Gralin]

Curious why he didn't play more than a half........

After so long and with it being wet would you rush him?

 

[MrPremiership]

After so long and with it being wet would you rush him?

That's the curious part. Seemed to be running around pretty well.

Rush? He's fit and played a half last week?

Why a half off the back of a half the previous week? Why not 3 quarters?
Is he more likely to get injured in the wet?
Is it to rest him for next week?

Do you want to push him to play this year to get a view as to a contract for 2020?
Is it career over anyway?

 

[Gralin]

That's the curious part. Seemed to be running around pretty well.

Rush? He's fit and played a half last week?

Why a half off the back of a half the previous week? Why not 3 quarters?
Is he more likely to get injured in the wet?
Is it to rest him for next week?

Do you want to push him to play this year to get a view as to a contract for 2020?
Is it career over anyway?

If they wanted him to play senior footy next week off a 6 day break a half in the wet is probably the limit being his second game back.

Yes I want him to play this year but given we've waited so long I'm not worried if they are being conservative

 

[Milkshaker]

Given how patient the club and Birch have been, not rushing it makes sense. We lose nothing by getting him right for a half a dozen games or so towards the back end of the season. Both parties will know if he can be part of 2020's plans then.

 

[hawkheart]

I honestly reckon he plays next week. So do Chad and Scrim.

Chad and Scrim honestly reckon Birch plays this week?

 

[PenAndPaper]

That's the curious part. Seemed to be running around pretty well.

Rush? He's fit and played a half last week?

Why a half off the back of a half the previous week? Why not 3 quarters?
Is he more likely to get injured in the wet?
Is it to rest him for next week?

Do you want to push him to play this year to get a view as to a contract for 2020?
Is it career over anyway?

You don't play a guy coming back from knee & calf injuries in the wet if you can help it.

No point risking him a full game in those conditions when he was moving well before it. Wouldn't be surprised to see him play a whole game this week & then into the ones.

 

[TazHawk15]

I can see Birch playing against Freo in Launceston all things being equal.

 

[tommyk72]

I can see Birch playing against Freo in Launceston all things being equal.

Can see it happening, but Tassie has been renowned for soft tissue injuries, no? Maybe one more week so as not to tempt fate.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Another half of footy for Birch - 13 touches and a couple tackles!

Wonder if he will be considered for Friday night against the Pies, would be great to see the great man return with a strong crowd attending!

Has to get through two full games at BHH for mine before being risked.

Hasn't played in two years, so absolutely not worth risking a soft tissue injury in the third quarter in an AFL-level game, because he is slightly under-done.

Can't wait to see this though...

 

[CHUBBSS]

Never forget how clean and impactful he is on a game. If he is back next year offers so much flexibility to the team. Would love to see him play some high quality footy again

 

[MrPremiership]

What does he need to do to get a contract for 2020?

Just get through the season at Box Hill? Play a couple of games at Hawks?

I don't think his papers are stamped for retirement just yet, but I wonder what he needs to prove to the club to get a contract (on top of staying fit).

 

[Milkshaker]

What does he need to do to get a contract for 2020?

Just get through the season at Box Hill? Play a couple of games at Hawks?

I don't think his papers are stamped for retirement just yet, but I wonder what he needs to prove to the club to get a contract (on top of staying fit).

If he gets injured again he's gone imo. Hence the softly, softly approach. Given that, I think the club wants him to go around again otherwise there is not much point to the VFL games either.

 

[TazHawk15]

Can see it happening, but Tassie has been renowned for soft tissue injuries, no? Maybe one more week so as not to tempt fate.

Tassie has no more soft tissue injuries than Melbourne does.

 

[PenAndPaper]

What does he need to do to get a contract for 2020?

Just get through the season at Box Hill? Play a couple of games at Hawks?

I don't think his papers are stamped for retirement just yet, but I wonder what he needs to prove to the club to get a contract (on top of staying fit).

Will 100% be on the list next year. Not like he would want or ask for a huge wage. He would be happy on a smaller wage just to play & stay at Hawthorn.

I personally don't even think he is that close to retirement, think he will be on the list at least another 2 years.

 

[cryptor]

What does he need to do to get a contract for 2020?

Just get through the season at Box Hill? Play a couple of games at Hawks?

I don't think his papers are stamped for retirement just yet, but I wonder what he needs to prove to the club to get a contract (on top of staying fit).

I think we all know about the metrics the club uses to determine which players have dropped off to the point that they'll make the call on their future. The same ones that determined Lake was done even though he thought he was good to go but later conceded he probably wasn't.

The issue with that is that Birchall has been out so long that significant data can't have been collected. You could argue by virtue of that it's enough evidence to suggest he isn't right. But clearly the club doesn't think so otherwise they'd have already told him he was done.

So I think they'll ease him back in and hopefully he can get 4-6 games in before the end of our season. He may not have to show great playing form but I think they'll want to see that he can carry a full AFL load in at least the back half of that block of games. I'd agree that any soft tissue injury in that time could be the last straw.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

You don't play a guy coming back from knee & calf injuries in the wet if you can help it.

No point risking him a full game in those conditions when he was moving well before it. Wouldn't be surprised to see him play a whole game this week & then into the ones.

Minimum requirement for mine. With his injury history and the big jump in intensity on the body and muscles from VFL ot AFL, it is not worht the risk. The rest of the seaosn is purely and audition for him around whether he gets another year. He only needs to end it with a good month at AFL level to get that, so why risk it at all. Go early and get injured, the dream is over...