IT was yet another precise journey for Grant Birchall on his way to becoming a three-time premiership player on Saturday.
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The Devonport dasher and his trusty left foot were in fine form at the MCG, with the 26-year-old living up to his high standards when it comes to efficiency with the Sherrin.
Birchall went at a disposal efficiency rate of 80 per cent, with 23 of his touches uncontested, took seven marks, had one clearance, four score involvements and two inside 50s, with his run from half- back a prominent feature of the afternoon.
He was at his most prolific in the second (nine disposals) and final terms (eight).
This was all after receiving a knock to his right leg early in the game which saw him limping for a few moments.
The running defender played on a mixture of resting midfielders and small forwards during Hawthorn’s dominant grand final win over Sydney, including Kieren Jack, Dan Hannebery, Jake Lloyd and Jarrad McVeigh.
But the flurry of opponents did not faze him, as he was one of the Hawks’ best with a 25-disposal outing, and found enough space that it didn’t look like he had a minder.
And while it wasn’t as memorable as Luke Hodge’s kiss, Birchall had his own up and close and personal moment with former teammate Lance Franklin which saw a verbal exchange between the two in the third term.
Birchall and his outside running mates were one of the keys behind Hawthorn’s 12th premiership.
To put it simply, they made the Swans look slow.
The work of Birchall, Bradley Hill, Cyril Rioli, Isaac Smith and Matt Suckling ran rings around the minor premiers, with that group having 92 disposals between them.
This is in comparison to two of Sydney’s best exponents of this style, Lewis Jetta and Gary Rohan, who had no impact and just 11 disposals between them, although Nick Malceski (26 possessions) and Rhyce Shaw (25) were prominent.
Birchall has had a strong influence in all three of his winning grand finals, officially finishing among the best players in the past two deciders.
The 194-gamer averages 25 disposals over that trio of matches from 2008, 2013 and Saturday.
The Tasmanian played every match this season, averaging 24 disposals and five marks, a wonderful effort considering his limited preparation from a PCL injury.
He finished second in the competition for total effective disposals (479), third for total kicks (425), equal 10th for total kicks (344), 12th for effective disposals per game (19.2), equal 14th for uncontested disposals per game (17) and 18th for total disposals (591).
Birchall, his teammates, coach Alastair Clarkson, president Andrew Newbold and chief executive Stuart Fox will be at the Silverdome in Launceston from midday tomorrow accompanied by the premiership cup to celebrate with their Tasmanian fans.