HAWTHORN'S All Australian defender Grant Birchall is unlikely to play again this year because of the hamstring setback he sustained on Friday night.

Birchall's wretched run across the past three seasons has largely owed to persistent issues related to a posterior cruciate ligament, but he's now suffering from regular soft-tissue problems.

The prognosis for the out-of-contract backman, a key member of the Hawks' 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2015 premierships, is between a two- and three-week absence.

It is unclear where Birchall sits in Hawthorn's list management strategy, given the large number of players aged 30 or older at the club.

However, physical performance manager Luke Boyd told the club's website the Hawks were still pleased Birchall had played a series of games in the second half of the season.

"It was just a standard hamstring injury. It's not great timing, obviously being at the end of the year," Boyd said.

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"But we've been really happy with how Grant's gone at the back end of this year, after not playing football for two years essentially and being able to play six games across the VFL and AFL.

"Obviously a positive at the moment is his knee is holding up quite well.

"Regarding the hamstring, we'll see how it progresses over the next week or two and work out where we go from there."

Hawthorn's other out-of-contract 30-somethings include Shaun Burgoyne, James Frawley, Ricky Henderson, Paul Puopolo and Jarryd Roughead.