Grant Birchall - Hawthorn Hawks
Position: BACK
Price: $417,400 (Fanplanner)
2011 Games: 21
2012 Games: 20
2011 Average: 89.6
2012 Average: 88.6
2012 Tons: 5
Summary: Was always one fo those players who just did their role for the team and that was all, posting an avergae in the 70's from his debut year in 2006 to 2010. Alistair Clarkson's kick-to-kick game plan worked wonders for Birch as he lifted his average by a cool 12 points per game. Arguably under priced as he was subbed at 3QTR time due to a corkie in round 3 against the Crows. Was on track for a 100+ game there too.
Verdict: LOCK 'N LOAD.
Ele's prediction: Big year for him and the Hawks - 99 average.
LOCK LOCK LOCK
Locked in a bank vault for next year, and nice write up.
Lock.
Absolute LOCK for me too.
99 average a bit generous though? :P
Quote from: Adamant on September 09, 2012, 11:30:49 PM
Absolute LOCK for me too.
99 average a bit generous though? :P
Nah, I feel it coming :D
Quote from: elephants on September 09, 2012, 11:33:14 PM
Quote from: Adamant on September 09, 2012, 11:30:49 PM
Absolute LOCK for me too.
99 average a bit generous though? :P
Nah, I feel it coming :D
haha ok, hopefully he does push 99!
surely everyone will be locking this guy in next year
cant see him improving his average by that much, but still on my radar
Quote from: Ricochet on September 10, 2012, 10:27:59 AM
surely everyone will be locking this guy in next year
why?
he's alright, but honestly I'd prefer hanley at that price range.
Quote from: Ziplock on September 10, 2012, 12:54:24 PM
Quote from: Ricochet on September 10, 2012, 10:27:59 AM
surely everyone will be locking this guy in next year
why?
he's alright, but honestly I'd prefer hanley at that price range.
why?? ok...
24 years old and averaging 89 with a sub affected 81 in round 3.
In the first 17 rounds he only dropped below 80 once
He didn't finish the season off well tho with 3 more below 80 scores
One of these was against Bombers where they won by 94 points so fair to say the ball probably wasn't in the backline that much
Should easily push a 90+ average next year and his
consistency is why he is a lock for me.
Only behind Goddard, Gibbs and Grimes next year in my book.
Locked in, reckon he will push his average into the 90-95 range.
great write ups ele :) Birch is also locked in for me
defiantly a lock, especially if deledio and carrazzo lose their dpp's, hopefully not.
Yeah how much I like him, he won't average 99 haha. I think 94-96 at tops :)
But still solid as.
Quote from: Ziplock on September 10, 2012, 12:54:24 PM
Quote from: Ricochet on September 10, 2012, 10:27:59 AM
surely everyone will be locking this guy in next year
why?
he's alright, but honestly I'd prefer hanley at that price range.
Not really a Birch fan are you Zip ;)
Was just looking at last weeks game, and Birch copped a tag from Ben Sinclair (of all people) in the qualifying final, only had 11 disposals, where he normally averaging 24.
Do you think other teams might latch onto this, and will Birch's average be affected as a result?
Quote from: stew42 on September 18, 2012, 07:53:49 PM
Was just looking at last weeks game, and Birch copped a tag from Ben Sinclair (of all people) in the qualifying final, only had 11 disposals, where he normally averaging 24.
Do you think other teams might latch onto this, and will Birch's average be affected as a result?
Then Sinclair got dropped... lol.
Comes down to who else is named as a def next year for me. I'd have Goddard, Waters, Grimes and Gibbs ahead of him, and maybe a couple of others.
Lock.
Definetly there round one
Consistent as they come, a worthy selection in any squad.
Won't post the huge scores, but is easily a top 7 defender. ;)
Scores of 47, 80 and 34 for an average of about 54. Teams starting to tag him could be a bit of a worry or won't happen in the home and away season?
Well in the first quarter the ball wasn't down there so he could be excused. And his second half was reasonable.
Quote from: whatlez on September 29, 2012, 09:08:36 PM
Well in the first quarter the ball wasn't down there so he could be excused. And his second half was reasonable.
Yeah second half was alrite just thought I'd mention it, will still be there most likely for me round one just a little worrying
Quote from: Scrads on September 10, 2012, 01:32:28 PM
Locked in, reckon he will push his average into the 90-95 range.
Must admit I am now a little nervous about him copping tags...
I have a feeling Suckling will go past him next season, Birchall still the best ball user off their back line but Suckling with another pre-season under his belt and one year wiser may become eventually the preferred ball in hands man off half back. Add to that his role as the handball off goal kicker from long and he shapes up as a true premium next season.
I wish all you losers get off him tbh :D
Yeah he's a shocking pick guys... Look elsewhere!
;)
Not jumping off, just a little wary :)
Quote from: Scrads on September 30, 2012, 02:48:36 PM
Not jumping off, just a little wary :)
Yeah and rightly so! I still think he's an underpriced top 7 back though :)
Im a little worried about his form over the finals, but I still reckon he is a lock for top 7 defenders.
We can take solace in the fact that finals are not apart of a players DT contribution and that we only need him for 22 H&A games :P
Quote from: Scrads on September 30, 2012, 03:45:21 PM
We can take solace in the fact that finals are not apart of a players DT contribution and that we only need him for 22 H&A games :P
Possibly Grant's thinking as well?? :P
Quote from: whatlez on September 30, 2012, 01:44:35 PM
I wish all you losers get off him tbh :D
lol I won't pick him all year only if you don't pick Swan
Quote from: Ricochet on September 10, 2012, 01:28:14 PM
Quote from: Ziplock on September 10, 2012, 12:54:24 PM
Quote from: Ricochet on September 10, 2012, 10:27:59 AM
surely everyone will be locking this guy in next year
why?
he's alright, but honestly I'd prefer hanley at that price range.
why?? ok...
24 years old and averaging 89 with a sub affected 81 in round 3.
In the first 17 rounds he only dropped below 80 once
He didn't finish the season off well tho with 3 more below 80 scores
One of these was against Bombers where they won by 94 points so fair to say the ball probably wasn't in the backline that much
Should easily push a 90+ average next year and his consistency is why he is a lock for me.
Only behind Goddard, Gibbs and Grimes next year in my book.
Is he still behind Goddard?
Quote from: nrich102 on October 02, 2012, 11:15:51 AM
Quote from: Ricochet on September 10, 2012, 01:28:14 PM
Quote from: Ziplock on September 10, 2012, 12:54:24 PM
Quote from: Ricochet on September 10, 2012, 10:27:59 AM
surely everyone will be locking this guy in next year
why?
he's alright, but honestly I'd prefer hanley at that price range.
why?? ok...
24 years old and averaging 89 with a sub affected 81 in round 3.
In the first 17 rounds he only dropped below 80 once
He didn't finish the season off well tho with 3 more below 80 scores
One of these was against Bombers where they won by 94 points so fair to say the ball probably wasn't in the backline that much
Should easily push a 90+ average next year and his consistency is why he is a lock for me.
Only behind Goddard, Gibbs and Grimes next year in my book.
Is he still behind Goddard?
yeh i think so, superstars don't forget how to play footy when they change clubs
unless its when they go to the Freo in the 1990s ::)
Quote from: Ricochet on October 02, 2012, 11:22:36 AM
Quote from: nrich102 on October 02, 2012, 11:15:51 AM
Quote from: Ricochet on September 10, 2012, 01:28:14 PM
Quote from: Ziplock on September 10, 2012, 12:54:24 PM
Quote from: Ricochet on September 10, 2012, 10:27:59 AM
surely everyone will be locking this guy in next year
why?
he's alright, but honestly I'd prefer hanley at that price range.
why?? ok...
24 years old and averaging 89 with a sub affected 81 in round 3.
In the first 17 rounds he only dropped below 80 once
He didn't finish the season off well tho with 3 more below 80 scores
One of these was against Bombers where they won by 94 points so fair to say the ball probably wasn't in the backline that much
Should easily push a 90+ average next year and his consistency is why he is a lock for me.
Only behind Goddard, Gibbs and Grimes next year in my book.
Is he still behind Goddard?
yeh i think so, superstars don't forget how to play footy when they change clubs
unless its when they go to the Freo in the 1990s ::)
haha
As a hawks fan I love how he is rarely beaten, and have had him in my team for many seasons. However, I am thinking of only starting with 3 def prems, Grimes, Goddard and Gibbs and then having some uniques and Bock, partially so I can afford to start Cotchin, Swan and Gaj in my mids instead of only 2. Definitely will be an upgrade target though.
Quote from: Ricochet on October 02, 2012, 11:22:36 AM
Quote from: nrich102 on October 02, 2012, 11:15:51 AM
Quote from: Ricochet on September 10, 2012, 01:28:14 PM
Quote from: Ziplock on September 10, 2012, 12:54:24 PM
Quote from: Ricochet on September 10, 2012, 10:27:59 AM
surely everyone will be locking this guy in next year
why?
he's alright, but honestly I'd prefer hanley at that price range.
why?? ok...
24 years old and averaging 89 with a sub affected 81 in round 3.
In the first 17 rounds he only dropped below 80 once
He didn't finish the season off well tho with 3 more below 80 scores
One of these was against Bombers where they won by 94 points so fair to say the ball probably wasn't in the backline that much
Should easily push a 90+ average next year and his consistency is why he is a lock for me.
Only behind Goddard, Gibbs and Grimes next year in my book.
Is he still behind Goddard?
yeh i think so, superstars don't forget how to play footy when they change clubs
unless its when they go to the Freo in the 1990s ::)
LOL