He’s always been a steady and reliable Dream Team performer, but Hawthorn defender Grant Birchall has started season 2013 on fire on the field for the Hawks and on the Dream Team field for coaches.
The rangy half back has never had any issues finding the footy, averaging 21 disposals across his 154 game career so far.
But, in his first two matches of season 2013, Birchall has taken his game to a new level.
The Tasmanian Hawk not only provides his side with great aggression and defensive ability, but also proven to be an offensive weapon even more integral to the side that in previous seasons, in the absence of Matt Suckling.
In his opening two matches against tough opposition, Birchall has gathered 29 and 31 possessions against Geelong and West Coast respectively and, against the Eagles, pushed forward to kick two crucial goals.
Now the most popular Hawthorn defender in the world of AFL Fantasy Dream Team in the absence of Suckling, Birchall has started the season with a bang with scores of 101 and 121 for an average of 111.
Hawthorn like to get the ball in the hands of Birchall off half back because of his ability to run and carry and break the lines to find a teammate up forward and that is only good news for his 21,091 Dream Team coaches.
His opening price of $455,400 is set to rise at the conclusion of this round, so if you don’t have him in your side, now is the time to trade him in.
In case you need another reason other than the fact he’s one of Hawthorn’s most consistent and reliable performers and that form translates into the world of AFL Fantasy, Birchall loves playing against Hawthorn’s Round 3 opponent, Collingwood.
In his last two home and away games against the Pies, Birchall has scores 84 points from 25 touches and 118 points from 28 touches.
The Captain is back
Luke Hodge made a surprise comeback for Hawthorn in the Round 2 win over the Eagles on Sunday after playing just one practice match in the VFL.
He didn’t appear to be underdone at all, however, justifying his selection in the side with a strong performance.
Coach Alastair Clarkson said there was no risk in selecting Hodge for his first game of the season after surgery on his knee restricted his ability to train fully over the pre-season and that proved to be true as the Hawks skipper put in a commanding performance in defence.
Hodge did all the hard and tough things fans have come to expect from him and in the process notched up 99 Dream Team points.
It was a promising opening score for the captain and his 4,197 Dream Team coaches but, it would be wise to hold fire on selecting him in your Dream Team.
When Hodge returned from injury last season, he burst onto the scene with five goals and 94 Dream Team points in just three quarters of football against Essendon in Round 18 but couldn’t back up that effort the next week, gathering just nine possessions and 41 Dream Team points against Geelong.
His scores did improve and become more consistent though as he got some continuity in his football, scoring 112 against Gold Coast and 87, 83 and 83 from rounds 22 through to the Qualifying Final against Collingwood.
Add him to your watch list and see how he performs against Collingwood before bringing him in.
Get Mitchell while you can
We know he’s the obvious choice from Hawthorn for your midfield, but if for some reason you haven’t selected Sam Mitchell in your side, bring him in before his price sky rockets.
The reigning Peter Crimmins medallist is in hot form to start the season, gathering 37 and 31 disposals in the opening two rounds for 109 and 128 Dream Team points.
Those two scores have his average sitting at 118 heading into Round 3 against Collingwood a team that he performs particularly well against.
The Pies don’t seem to have a match up for the gun Hawks midfielder who has gathered 31, 33, 32, 31and 34 possessions in his last five outings against them.
Those numbers translated into big Dream Team scores, putting his average to 116 against Collingwood in his last five games. That average also includes big scores of 130 and 137 in two of those games.
Top 5 Hawthorn Dream Team scorers
Sam Mitchell - $523,500
Grant Birchall - $455,400
Cyril Rioli - $425,800
Isaac Smith - $401,000
Jordan Lewis - $463,900
