The injury meant the four-time premiership Hawk from Devonport was unable to feature in Box Hill’s VFL elimination final last week.

"Grant has had a number of muscle overload issues since returning to skills training," Hawthorn's director of high performance Andrew Russell said on the AFL website 

"The adductor strain is minor and he should be available in the next one to two weeks."

The injury means Birchall won’t be part of Box Hill’s team for its semi-final on Sunday against Geelong.

Birchall has been sidelined for the season after PCL surgery on his knee. He was limited to five games last year due to that issue, as well as an early-season broken jaw.

Meanwhile, one North-West Coast product has departed Fremantle as the future of another at the club remains up in the air.

It was announced on Tuesday that Chris Bond, who is originally from Wynyard, would leave his post as  general manager of football operations at the end of November.

“Chris is a person of the highest calibre and integrity who has made an outstanding contribution to the Fremantle Football Club over a long period of time, which he will always be remembered and respected for,” Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich said.

“Chris played a key role in helping to drive our football department and develop the staff and playing group which secured Fremantle’s first grand final appearance in 2013, a minor premiership in 2015 and a sustained period of playing finals football, with five finals series appearances in the six years between 2010 and 2015.

“On behalf of everyone associated with Fremantle, we extend our deepest gratitude to Chris for everything he has done for the club and wish Chris and his family all the very best for the future.”

Bond’s departure comes amidst social media speculation that Burnie’s Brady Grey has been told he he won’t be offered a new contract.

Grey played just four games this season in a year restricted by injury, for a career total of 21 games since his debut in 2015. He had previously been delisted and re-rookied by the club in 2016.

Clarence’s Mitchell Hibberd was told by North Melbourne on Tuesday his services were longer required after playing just four games for the club since being drafted in 2015.

He joined Tigers’ Mackenzie Willis (Gold Coast) as the Tasmanians delisted so far this year.