After 720 days on the sidelines, Grant Birchall is preparing to line up in the VFL this weekend.
Provided he gets through a final training session, Birchall will be named in Max Bailey’s side set to face Sandringham at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday.
Round 15 2017 was the veteran’s most recent game at any level. Complications following a PCL reconstruction saw him sidelined for the whole of 2018, while calf issues have hampered the first half of his 2019 campaign.
But, GM-Football Graham Wright hopes this weekend will see the end of a challenging period for one of the club’s favourite sons.
“Birch still has to get through a final training session, but it’s looking likely he’ll pull on the boots this Saturday which is really exciting for him,” Wright said.
“We’ll manage his game time this week and ease him back into the loads, but it’s obviously a big step in the right direction.
“It’s been a long road to recovery for Birch, with minor setbacks hampering his progress along the way.
“The way he has handled himself through a difficult period has been commendable.”
Birchall is just five games away from celebrating his 250th game milestone, having already registered 245 games (and four premierships) in the brown and gold.
Box Hill's clash will take place at Box Hill City Oval at 2.10pm on Saturday, following the VFLW clash between Hawthorn and the Southern Saints at 11.50am. Entry is free before half time in the women's game.
