LION KING BIRCHALL
One-year deal with Fagan, but he hopes for three
GRANT Birchall will hunt a fifth flag at Brisbane next year after joining the Lions as a free agent.
Birchall will replace old mate Luke Hodge on a half-back flank in Chris Fagan’s side — signing a one-year deal, but he is confident he will get through as many as three seasons.
The defender, who turns 32 in January, had also been approached by Gold Coast, but the Hawks still had not made an official offer to retain him.
They will receive no compensation for Birchall’s departure.
The left-footer has been plagued by knee and subsequent soft-tissue injuries that have restricted him to only eight games in three seasons.
But he said he was excited to make a fresh start under the Queensland sun after 248 games at the Hawks.
“It happened reasonably quickly,” Birchall said. “I’m excited to start something a bit different and get up there.
“[Fagan] has done some really good things at the Lions over the last few years and they were really good to watch in 2019. I’m looking forward to playing under him and hopefully helping the guys go the next step in 2020.”
Birchall’s manager Shane Casley said the climate had played a part in Birchall’s decision.
“I think ‘Hodgey’ has convinced him that the sun and the warmth in Brisbane is great for the body so he’s very excited about getting up there and getting his body right and playing some good footy for them,” Casley said.
Lions football manager David Noble had spoken in recent days about how the club was wrestling with whether to offer Birchall a contract, mindful of its emerging youngsters and the need to develop from within.
But Noble said Birchall’s run, rebound and elite efficiency had become a musthave. “That’s been an area we’ve wanted to target this trade period,” Noble said.
“We’re really excited with what he can offer our club on the field as he has a track record of stepping up and playing well in big games.”