Hawkas1988
Norm Smith Medallist
This guy rarely gets spoken about like our other champs, he is a Hawthorn champ and I see so often on this board the lack of recognition and love for his performances every week and every year. He is ultra consistent and as reliable as they come.
I see criticism of him as being tagged out of it sometimes, which I must say rarely happens throughout a season. It's noticeable because usually when we lose a game, the opposition stop this guy, which shows how vital and important he is. Yet when we win, he rarely gets spoken about as being one of the reasons why we won and how good he is.
Birchall has just come 2nd in our BnF, this follows a 3rd (2011) another 3rd (2012) and a 7th (2013) when he missed 7 or 8 games with injury. The coaches clearly know how great this guy is and I just feel he is underappreciated by a lot of supporters.
I laughed at some of the suggestions by some posters earlier in the year when discussing potential trades and how to replenish our midfield. Birchall's name came up a few times as a way of getting a Shiel type. Hawthorn would laugh at a team like GWS for suggesting Birchall as a trade option. You don't trade a champ and you don't trade someone who is clearly loved by all within the club and by the way you don't trade the best half-back flanker in the league who sets up so many of our plays and who's efficiency is ridiculous. One poster in particular who posts frequently on here and someone who is quite respected labelled Birchall as overrated which I just can't fathom, especially knowing what he actually brings to our side and what the coaches think of him.
Rant over, just wanted to give some support and love to one of our most underrated champions. Love ya Birchall, I hope you play to 300 games and win another couple of flags!!
I see criticism of him as being tagged out of it sometimes, which I must say rarely happens throughout a season. It's noticeable because usually when we lose a game, the opposition stop this guy, which shows how vital and important he is. Yet when we win, he rarely gets spoken about as being one of the reasons why we won and how good he is.
Birchall has just come 2nd in our BnF, this follows a 3rd (2011) another 3rd (2012) and a 7th (2013) when he missed 7 or 8 games with injury. The coaches clearly know how great this guy is and I just feel he is underappreciated by a lot of supporters.
I laughed at some of the suggestions by some posters earlier in the year when discussing potential trades and how to replenish our midfield. Birchall's name came up a few times as a way of getting a Shiel type. Hawthorn would laugh at a team like GWS for suggesting Birchall as a trade option. You don't trade a champ and you don't trade someone who is clearly loved by all within the club and by the way you don't trade the best half-back flanker in the league who sets up so many of our plays and who's efficiency is ridiculous. One poster in particular who posts frequently on here and someone who is quite respected labelled Birchall as overrated which I just can't fathom, especially knowing what he actually brings to our side and what the coaches think of him.
Rant over, just wanted to give some support and love to one of our most underrated champions. Love ya Birchall, I hope you play to 300 games and win another couple of flags!!
