Four-time premiership Hawk Grant Birchall is set to make his long awaited return to the field this weekend.
He will suit up for the Box Hill Hawks on Saturday after 720 days on the sidelines, having not played since Round 15, 2017 due to knee and calf issues.
“Birch still has to get through a final training session, but it’s looking likely he’ll pull on the boots this Saturday which is really exciting for him,” GM of Football Graham Wright told hawthornfc.com.au.
The 31-year old has played 245 games for the brown and gold and will bolster the ninth-placed VFL Hawks, with a promotion to the senior team in his sights.
Birchall has a 68 per cent career winning percentage and would bring valuable experience to Alastair Clarkson's side, currently sitting 12th with a 5-7 record.
Get set for the footy with the FREE Zero Hanger 2026 AFL Season Guide! Packed with 150+ pages of player profiles, team previews, insights and analysis, the 2026 AFL Season Guide is built for fans who want the full picture. Download your free Season Guide HERE.
