Grant Birchall to miss month after surgery to repair fractured jaw

HAWTHORN’S Grant Birchall will miss up to a month of football after going under the surgeon’s knife to repair a fractured jaw suffered against Adelaide yesterday.

Grant Birchall was in trouble after suffering a heavy knock, but still played on. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

HAWTHORN’S Grant Birchall will miss up to a month of football after having surgery on a fractured jaw today.

The four-time premiership Hawk suffered the injury in the first quarter of Saturday’s 24-point loss to Adelaide after a knock to the face from Crow Tom Lynch, and received treatment in the rooms before returning to the field and playing out the game.

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“Grant had scans last night which unfortunately confirmed a fracture of the jaw,” Hawks football boss Justin Burt said on Sunday.

“He will have surgery today and we will have a better idea on his timeline for return following that. At this stage it is likely to be somewhere between 3-4 weeks.

Grant Birchall gets checked out by Hawthorn medical staff. Picture: Michael Klein

“It’s a disappointing result for Grant so early in the season but he’ll be doing everything he can to return to the field as soon as possible.”

Coach Alastair Clarkson had lauded Birchall’s bravery in playing out the match following Saturday’s loss.

Key midfielders Isaac Smith and Liam Shiels will also be assessed this week after both copping knocks to the hip in the defeat.

“I think it was obvious to everyone that they weren’t moving too well,” Clarkson said.

“They were pretty sore.”