Grant BIRCHALL

2017 Digest:   Veteran hasn’t missed a beat over summer and tracking towards another consistent season in defence.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1	Ess	One of the Hawks’ few four-quarter performers across half back. Ended with 22 touches in a solid night’s display.	7
2	Adel	Only three disposals after half-time (19 first half) was telling when the Crows started to dominate the contest.	5
3		Jaw.
4		Jaw.
5		Jaw.
6		Jaw.
7	Melb	Injured knee in opening term and his day was done. Horror year continues.	1
8		Knee.
9		Knee.
10		Knee.
11		Knee.
12		Knee.
13		Bye.
14	Adel	Returned to side after a long layoff with injury, and haven’t they missed his decision making.	7
15	Coll	Not as good as he was against Crows but provided some rebound at times. Plays with a presence.	6
16		Knee.
17		Knee.
18		Knee.
19		Knee.
20		Knee.
21		Knee.
22		Knee.
23		Knee.

2016 Season

1	Geel	Got better as the game wore on to end with 26 touches off half back.	6
2	WCE	Went to Cripps and kept him rather quiet while still providing good drive.	7
3	WB	The general across half back. Used the ball well from 23 touches.	6
4	StK	Loves returning to Tasmania and was good again rebounding off half back. Rarely wasted a touch.	7
5	Adel	Unremarkable game, but did a couple of nice things.	4
6	GWS	OK, but couldn’t get customary rebound and run off half back going with ball zipping by.	5
7	Rich	Worked hard down back and kept pumping the ball out.	6
8	Frem	Started on Langdon and usual solid self in defence til hurt shoulder in last term.	6
9	Syd	OK down back but not influential In overall result.	5
10	Bris	Wasted none of his 26 disposals and helped set up a number of plays out of defence.	7
11	Melb	Some crucial intercepts then good decisions off half back. Got better as game wore on.	6
13	NM	Always read the play in defence and maintained usual high standards.	6
14	GCS	Racked up touches from half-back and again among the best. Ball use solid.	7
16	Port	Rotated between Impey and Neade, and managed five rebound-50s.	6
17	Syd	Rebound from half back again a feature. Doesn’t play poorly.	7
18	Rich	Rebounded everything that came his way in best game of the year.	8
19	Carl	Solid again from half back. A steady head when the game was tight.	6
20	Melb	Not at brilliant best but offered some rebound from defence. Handy.	6
21	NM	Did what he’s been doing for 10 years – rebounded with aplomb.	7
22	WCE	Had plenty of the ball and gave the team drive from defence.	7
23	Coll	Steady across half back from start to finish. Got into right spot at righty time.	7
QF	Geel	Matched on Motlop early. Disposal wayward at start but warmed into his work to play role.	6
SF	WB	Battled hard across half back but weight of ball against told.	6

2015 Season

1		Knee.
2	Ess	Back from knee injury and provided vital run and rebound from defence.	7
3	WB	Able to direct play in whatever way he wanted from defence.	7
4	Port	His run and carry was not as prominent.	6
5	NM	Provided constant drive off half back to help set the game up.	7
6	GWS	Busy across all four quarters and impressed with his run and carry.	6
7	Melb	Part of a rock solid back six that wasn’t really troubled.	7
8	Syd	Solid all through then injured knee late and missed last five minutes.	5
9		Ankle.
10		Ankle.
11		Ankle.
12		Ankle.
13	Ess	Big first term (nine touches) then even after that.	6
14	Coll	Matched on Broomhead and did job.	6
15	Frem	Loves heading back to home state and did as he pleased off half back.	8
16	Syd	Relaxed night given lack of scoreboard pressure. Did whatever he wanted.	7
17	Carl	Never under pressure at all but did what was required across half back.	6
18	Rich	Handy with his poise at half back but unable to get forward.	6
19	WCE	Crucial goal in the second term and important after half time.	6
20	Geel	Swept across half back with aplomb and used ball to advantage.	7
21	Port	Not his best night’s work but steady enough at half back. Lost White a few times.	5
22	Bris	Loves returning to home state and was a strong contributor again.	7
23	Carl	Goalled from a dubious 50m penalty and was steady across half back.	6
QF	WCE	Horribly first half then lifted in second half but too little too late.	5
SF	Adel	Brilliant first half set tone for team. Ball use was superb from start to finish.	8
PF	Frem	Used ball superbly from the back half. A key contributor.	7
GF	WCE	Started on Cripps. Untroubled in defence and provided usual drive.	6

2014 Season

1	Bris	Mopped up anything loose in defence opposed to Paparone. Loves Tassie.	8
2	Ess	Only six of his 16 touches were kicks, which was a win for the Bombers.	5
3	Frem	In control across half back and collected touches at will.	7
4	GCS	Unfussed and untroubled game down back.	6
5	Geel	Only four kicks to half-time but upped anti in second half to be among Hawk best.	7
6	Rich	Creative from half back.	7
7	StK	Roamed far and wide from his half back post in effortless fashion.	8
8	Syd	Even effort across four quarters. Lurked forward to kick side’s first goal.	7
10	Port	Less run out of defence and more defensive duties with key players missing.	7
11	GWS	Palmer wore him tight but still found his share of the ball and efficiency good.	7
12	WCE	Started slowly but picked up his game to become important.	6
13	Carl	Despite Armfield shadow he kept wheel turning from back half. Steady.	7
14	Coll	Influential across half back setting up attacks and taking intercept marks.	7
15	GCS	Did it on the bit and drifted forward for two goals. Subbed off in final term.	5
16	NM	Started on Harvey who got away early. Not the normal impact in game. Flat.	2
17	Adel	Punished Adelaide in first half with his run, carry and delivery by foot.	7
18	Syd	Rebounded brilliantly and used the ball well with vision and creativity.	8
19	WB	Excellent start to the game and was steady from then on.	6
20	Melb	Provided run off half back and was afforded too much time and space.	7
21	Frem	Won 19 touches but not usual run and creativity from half back.	5
22	Geel	Quietly went about playing a part. Pushed forward for five inside-50s.	7
23	Coll	Everywhere. Five inside-50s indicates his ability to push up the ground.	8
QF	Geel	Not a hugely influential first half but worked into the game well in second stanza.	6
SF		–
PF	Port	Lined up on White. Slowish start then picked up.	5
GF	Syd	A concern with early limp but then settled into his rhythm nicely.	7

2013 Season

1	Geel	Roamed off half-back to and among the Hawks best.	7
2	WCE	Did the lot with run off half back and two good goals.	8
3	Coll	Won his usual quota of outside footy and became a factor off half back.	7
4	Frem	Big game on return to home state. No one went near him.	8
5	NM	Despite Wright playing negating role he still created.	6
6	Adel	Kerridge ran with him all game and reduced his influence.	5
7	Syd	Bird played a defensive role on him but got going to be a factor.	6
8	GWS	Often looked frustrated by Palmer’s close attention and had reduced impact.	3
9		Back.
10	Melb	Huge game with five rebound 50s and damaging ball use all afternoon.	8
12	Carl	Despite best efforts of Armfield was a decisive factor – 13 second-half disp.	7
13	WCE	Quiet first half then trend continued until subbed up late in third.	2
14		Knee.
15		Knee.
16		Knee.
17		Knee.
18		Knee.
19		Knee.
20		Knee.
21	Coll	Never missed a beat in his effortless return to the side down back.	7
22	NM	Flashed in and out of play. Four inside 50s and three rebound 50s.	5
23	Syd	Good productive game off half-back flank.	6
QF	Syd	Started on Bolton, but had free roaming role. Did as he pleased.	6
SF
PF	Geel	Became a crucial performer off half back in second half.	7
GF	Frem	Racked up a lot of disposals and was prepared to mix it in packs.	7

2012 Season

1	Coll	Great game. Rebounded with authority and gave drive further afield.	8
2	Geel	Didn’t have much work in defence in the first half.	5
3	Adel	As usual read play well. Copped knock to knee in third term, subbed off.	7
6	StK	Provided valuable drive out of back-line. Seriously under-rated. A genuine star.	7
7	Melb	Matched up on Howe at start then freed up to create	5
8	Frem	Effective as ever across half back.	6
9	Rich	Tried hard against the tide but it was tough going in the back half.	6
10	NM	Slow start but worked into the game after half time to put up good numbers.	6
11	Port	Started the day on Justin Westhoff and nullified the 100-game player.	7
12	Bris	Read play well in defence and swept well across half back.	5
14	Carl	Incisive runner from defence with 13 handball receives.	7
15	GWS	Consistent four quarter performance running out of defence.	8
16	WB	Controlled the game (15 disp first half) and kept it going – four inside-50s.	7
17	Coll	Didn’t have to do a whole lot with team on top. Good when he had to be.	6
18	Ess	Matched up on Monfries. Capable and sound as usual.	6
19	Geel	First three quarters solid but only two handballs in last, which was telling.	6
20	Port	Did as he pleased across half back. 32 possessions in a BOG performance.	8
21	GCS	Unobtrusive but effective across half-back.	5
22	Syd	Didn’t always hit the target but was reasonable effective from half back.	6
23	WCE	Patrolled half back with aplomb all night – five inside/rebound 50s.	8
QF	Coll	Bright start then Sinclair negated his impact in final three quarters.	3
PF	Adel	Did the job down back and gave value.	6
GF	Syd	Freed up in third quarter when relieved of tagging role and created moves.	5