AF 2014 Profile: Grant Birchall

[Adamant]

Grant Birchall - Hawthorn Hawks

Position: Defender

Price: TBA

2012 Games: 20

2012 Average: 88.6

2013 Games: 14

2013 Average: 80.5



Thoughts: Was shaping up as a must-have defender after scores of 101, 121, 106 and 151 in the first month of the season. His penetrating left boot and play-making across half-back makes him a prime target for opposition taggers, so his blistering early season form was always going to attract a fair bit of attention (something he has not been able to overcome in the past). As a result, he got himself into a major form slump which would have been excruciating for the thousands of coaches that brought him in at over 500k expecting his form to continue. He did his PCL in round 13 and didn't return until round 21 where he finished off the home and away season with a solid 74 average.

Despite burning thousands of coaches in 2013, Birch will be pretty good value considering that he was the stalwart of our backlines in 2011 and 2012, with averages of 89.6 and 88.6 respectively. His consistency and reliability in those years were second to probably only Goddard down back, which says something about the caliber of this guy when he is up and going. Even when he's on track for a fairly poor score, he always seems to find a way to junk up to a solid 80. His good finals series and the return of Suckling all points torwards him getting back to his best in 2014.

Verdict: Massive lock for me. Clearly I'm a huge fan of Birch, but he will be underpriced at an 80 average and his proven scoring ability makes him too good to refuse.

Prediction: I think he'll get back to his best - 90 average.

[Football Factory]

Undervalued, i think ... he stuffed my team this year but im up for some more punishment in 2014   ;D

[ADEZ]

Yeah being considered along with about 20 others  ::)
That look on his face in the picture has me somewhat worried though  ???

[Ricochet]

That is such a seedy photo haha.

Underpriced gun. With Mitchell's move to half back and with Smith stepping up, I think Birchall will cop less attention than he did mid season. Could see those big number again regularly

[Nige]

The only thing scaring me off is his face in that photo.  :o

[henry]

Yeah it is a bit disturbing lol that picture. Is undervalued  I think, and so will certainly be under consideration but if guys like simpson, mitchell and mcveigh all get dpp could be hard to fit him in.

I was lucky to not get sucked into to his high price last year, did not have him at any stage so I'm not as annoyed by his performances as others and am maybe more willing to pick him  :P

[Levis43]

LOCK!!

[pommyadam]

in the group of 20 others for me

but may go for his injured returning teammate over him though

[Colliwobblers]

gun genuine premium, not sure i can fit him into my starting DT defence, but a very safe pick.

depends how well suckers comes back and whether he demands opposition attention or whether it will be a case of shutting down birchall again at all costs.

let of the leash early on hence the massive scores but that did not last....

[Toga]

Nice write up Ada!

I didn't start with him this year because I thought he might cop some tags without Suckers in the team but thought I'd made the wrong decision when he came out and scored like he did. But then the tags did come, and he struggled.

Suckers is such a good kick I wouldn't be surprised to see teams tagging him over Birch next year, which should see Birchall's scoring return to what it has been in the past. Think he'll be a good pick next year, strongly considering!

[Essendon21]

Solid write up Ada, you really hit the spot with that one buddy.

[Master Q]

Unsure at this stage  :-\