GRANT Birchall has pulled up well after playing his first game since last year's Grand Final, but says in 2014 he will have to carefully manage the right knee he injured last season.
Birchall was among the Hawks' best players in their 110-point thumping of Melbourne at Casey Fields last Saturday, playing most of the game as he slipped seamlessly back into his playmaking role across half-back.
The 2012 All Australian told AFL.com.au at Hawthorn's season launch on Wednesday night that a carefully structured pre-season program had him primed for the Hawks' round one clash with the Brisbane Lions next Saturday at Aurora Stadium.
"My knee's really good. I've just managed it from last year, just slowly built it up and it feels great and is right to go for round one," Birchall said.
"Obviously the knee kept me out of action for a couple of months last year and it wasn't 100 per cent when I got back into the side.
"But I didn't need surgery at the end of the year and have just been careful and tried to get my quad and glute strength up so the knee can handle the loads.
"It's not going to be 100 per cent. It's just one of those injuries that you have to keep on top of and manage."
The Hawks' defence will be missing some key players in round one, with full-back Brian Lake suspended and Ben Stratton straining a hamstring against Melbourne.
Matt Spangher would have been a readymade replacement, but Birchall said the versatile tall had only returned to training on Wednesday after struggling with a calf injury.
Nonetheless, Birchall thinks the Hawks have the backline depth to cover the loss of Lake and Stratton, saying tall Angus Litherland and smaller defenders such as Kyle Cheney and Derick Wanganeen had performed really well in the Hawks' pre-season games.
"We're confident those guys can fill in and play a role," Birchall said.
"Those guys have been in the system now for a good four or five years, they know their roles inside out, so they can slot in there no worries at all."
Hawthorn launched the WE ARE HAWTHORN story on Wednesday night, a video that draws on the voices of Hawk greats such as John Kennedy snr, Peter Knights and Dermott Brereton, and coach Alastair Clarkson and captain Luke Hodge to capture the club's culture and values.
Watch the video here.
Birchall fit, healthy and ready for Round 1
GRANT Birchall has pulled up well after playing his first game since last year's Grand Final, but says in 2014 he will have to carefully manage the right knee he injured last season.
