Hawthorn defender Grant Birchall is set to miss at least four weeks of footy after fracturing his jaw against Adelaide yesterday according to reports.
Birchall and Adelaide forward Tom Lynch were contesting an aerial ball just inside the centre square when Lynch clattered into Birchall’s jaw with his forearm.
Birchall was in pain but played most of the rest of the match out.
His team mate Brendan Whitecross drove him to hospital at the end of the match.
Today it has emerged that he has a fractured jaw and will need surgery and a plate.
It’s a tough blow for Hawthorn who have started the season 0-2 for the first time since 2009.
They take on the Gold Coast Suns next Saturday at Metricon Stadium.