Grant Birchall will be awarded AFL life membership for his services to football at the league’s 2022 AGM in March.
The AFL Commission have confirmed his induction after he passed the 300 game milestone during the 2021 season for the Lions.
“Birch” retired after the Lions’ heartbreaking one point semi-final loss to the Western Bulldogs last season, drawing the curtain on one of the more successful careers of the modern era.
The 34-year-old, who won four premierships with Hawthorn and was a 2012 All-Australian, played 287 premiership games in a career that spanned 16 years.
He retired ranked 4th on the AFL games record list for Tasmanians and is a member of the Apple Isle’s Football Hall of Fame.
His involvement with AFL football and the Lions continues in 2022 where he will divide his time between duties as a part time coach and match day runner for Chris Fagan and as a coach in the Lions Academy.
After managing just eight games over the final two years of his time in the brown and gold, Birchall enjoyed a career revival at the Lions.
He went on play another 39 games for the Lions as a mainstay of Fagan’s defence to earn his life membership alongside the game’s greatest players.
“Life membership is a reward for your hard work and longevity in the game,’’ he said.
“I feel very proud to have spent 16 years at the top level and I’m very lucky to have so many great people around me along the way who have helped me achieve this award.’’
Upon his retirement Fagan, who played a key role in luring Birchall to Queensland at the end of 2018 after 248 games over 13 years with Hawthorn, labelled him the ultimate big game player.
“I think the thing that stood out to me about Birch was his record in finals, he always rose to the occasion in big games and was just a superb finals performer,’’ Fagan said.
“He averaged 24 possessions a game in four grand finals for the Hawks, to be able to produce those numbers on the biggest stage puts him in elite company.’’
Grant Birchall
287 premiership games and 17 pre-season games played for Hawthorn and Brisbane Lions, kicking 37 goals.
2 x International Rules games 2014, 2015.
4 x Premiership Player 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015.
All Australian, 2012
