A club debut one week to a 250th game celebration the next, its certainly been an interesting fortnight for Grant Birchall.
You would think that after 248 games and four premierships the game would hold few new surprises for Birchall.
But the circumstances of his first game as a Lion in the round two win over Fremantle were unique and after a tough run with injury over the past three years, his approaching milestone against West Coast on Saturday is something he hasn’t taken for granted.
The quietly spoken Tasmanian with the lethal left boot was on top of the football world after playing in his fourth winning grand final side when the Hawks claimed their premiership three-peat with victory over the Eagles in 2015.
However, the 32-year-old has managed just eight AFL games since their 2016 semi-final loss to the Western Bulldogs.
After a broken jaw and then persistent knee problems, the Hawks were slow to lock him away when he came off contract at the end of last year.
Chris Fagan, who knew first-hand what he could offer Brisbane’s defence, pounced.
He missed round one when his hamstring tightened in the week leading up to round one.
When Covid 19 forced a temporary halt to the season immediately after that game he was pitched into what he called a second pre-season and by the time the games’ returned he was raring to go.
Empty stands, new teammates and fumbling his way through a club song he admits he hasn’t totally mastered yet were all part of what he says was a thoroughly enjoyable, if not a little “weird” first up experience against the Dockers.
And game two, or 250, is another he is greatly looking forward too.
"It means a fair bit (to play 250 AFL games), because it's been pretty tough with me and my body the last few years," he said.
"It's quite a big achievement and something I'm proud of.
"Things have certainly changed quite a bit the last few years, but I'm excited for the fresh start.
"There was no crowd, a different uniform, different teammates ... all a bit weird but the more games I play with these guys we'll get some cohesion going."
Fans of the Lions and West Coast have something in common tonight, each are interested in the outcome of the tribunal’s ruling on eagles’ defender Jeremy McGovern’s challenge to his one-match ban.
The players are invested too.
"He's a pretty handy player... multiple All-Australian, can certainly play the game so if he's not there it's certainly handy for us," Birchall said.
He says the Eagles shock loss to Gold Coast is likely to have them fired-up to make amends this weekend but says he didn’t find the result a surprise but instead saw it as a warning that every side has to always be switched on and ready to go.
"Nothing really surprises me these days; it's such an even competition, anyone can beat anyone," he said.
"They're a young exciting group, would've been fresh and you have to be on your game."
