Not dominant, at times impressive, but he did enough.

The experience of the running defender from Devonport shone out in one-on-one situations, with Angus Monfries spending a lot of time playing the defensive-forward role on the Tasmanian.

The 26-year-old finished with 16 disposals at 75 per cent efficiency, with three marks and three tackles, with just two rebound 50s and three score involvements.

Birchall's precision passing inside 50 was a missing feature of the Hawks' output.

The pressure applied from the Power was intense, and that will only increase against the Swans, with the likes of Jake Lloyd, Luke Parker or former teammate Ben McGlynn candidates to play a similar role to that of Monfries if John Longmire goes with that tactic.

Saturday will be Birchall's fourth grand final, having tasted the ultimate success in 2008 and 2013.

In 2008, he collected 23 touches and last year 26, on both occasions finishing as one of his team's best.

Overall, he has played 17 matches against the Swans, for 10 wins and seven losses, averaging 19 touches.

He has played every match this season, averaging 24 touches and five marks.

Birchall will be the only Tasmanian in action on Saturday, after the seasons of Ben Brown and Nathan Grima came to an end at the hands of the Swans in North Melbourne's big preliminary final loss on Friday night.

Brown, of Devonport, finished his impressive September, which saw the forward-ruckman kick six goals in three games, with 2.0 from eight touches and four marks, with Heath Grundy his main opponent.

Evandale defender Nathan Grima had his hands full with Kurt Tippett, who kicked 4.2.

Grima finished with 11 disposals at 91 per cent disposal efficiency, with five marks and four rebound 50s.

Brown finished with 18 goals in 11 games in his debut season, while Grima played 14 games in an injury-interrupted year.