Birchall is a better kick than both Hodge and Suckling. He can do the same kick, the difference is he makes it hit more often than Hodge or Suckling do and without the severe shanks which hurt us the other way.
Urrrghh did you miss Hodge right foot spear onto Hales tit yesterday? Those are the kicks that result in goals...
In a hot contested finals like contested game his run and carry like his left foot are void, he isn't a Smith nor a Hill. He doesn't have the speed two way running nor the stamina of those two.
I'm not calling him soft, no one at our football club is soft. I'm talking about his ability to win a contested football in a one on one. Being pushed around, out bodied, holding your ground, keeping your feet etc.
He has been found wanting in the past two games when the heat was on, Sydney GF and the Geelong game this year. Both Young and Suckling let us down at important times of the game in contested situations in 2012.....it haunts me. Our players dropped their heads whilst our opponents walked taller.
Youngs 2008 GF haunts me too... the sound that 70m bomb of his made off the boot...