THE HAWKS refer to Aurora Stadium in Launcestonas their home away from home, but one player who will be literally playing infront of his home crowd this weekend against Port Adelaide is Grant Birchall.

Born on the west coast of Tasmania, and having then moved and spentmuch of his youth in a small called Shearwater in the state's north-west,Birchall says he enjoys returning home to play in front of family and friends.

In fact, the 19-year-old was fortunateenough to make his debut in Launceston in round one last year when the Hawksdefeated Fremantle by 22 points.

"It was extra special getting to playin Tassie in front of friends and family," Birchall says.

"It was even better because we hadsuch a big win, too. I still like to go back there to visit friends and familywhen the footy season's finished."

However his Tasmanian background hasn'talways yielded a favourable reception.

"Occasionally I get a little bit ofstick from the boys at the club. It's not too bad but I do get the odd sledge -just the usual Tassie jokes like the two-head thing," he laughs.

While Birchall's clean ball-handling andcool disposal would suggest a youth spent with an oval-ball clasped permanentlyto his hands, Birchall's sporting background isn't AFL oriented as you mightimagine.

The attacking defender played basketballuntil he was 16 and represented Tasmaniaon the U16 and U18 state sides. Although football was always going to be hissport of choice, he credits his basketball days for honing some of thestrengths of his footy game.

"It's really helped my vision,athleticism and ball handling skills. They're all strengths to my game thathave come from basketball."

As for his natural kicking ability, theteenager says that's all down to practice.

"I did work hard on it. I had a coach,Hamish Ogilvie, who coached me at U16 and U18 in Tassie and I did a fair bit ofwork with him as I do at Hawthorn, too."

One of Birchall's biggest attributes isn't astangible. It's his composure on the field. But the teenager isn't quite surehow he got it.

"My laid back persona is just anatural thing, I think. Or maybe it's a mixture of my Tassie upbringing and my dad'slaid-back attitude. Maybe that's where I get it. Mum's more of a fusser thananything."

This year Birchall was presented with the number14 guernsey after spending a year wearing 35. And although last year's numberyielded much success, with the debutant playing 16 games out of a possible 22,Birchall insists that he didn't mind swapping digits.

"Number 14 is a bit of a lucky numberfor me. I got drafted at number 14 and my NAB Rising Star nomination came in round14 last year as well."

As for this weekend's game against thePower in Tasmania,Birchall says that after the team's last visit to Launceston, when they suffereda 37-point defeat to the Kangaroos, he feels the Hawks' Tasmanian following deservesa good showing.

"We'll take a lot of confidence out ofthe Brisbanegame at the weekend…we owe one back to the Tassie supporters after theKangaroos game."