Irwin could be a late withdrawal for Leeton-Whitton in Saturday’s grand final due to the impending birth of his third child.

His wife Jessica is a week overdue and the hulking key defender has put family first.

“It’s huge. I haven’t been sleeping very well of late, and I don’t think Hodgey has either,” Irwin said.

“If it’s not here by grand final day, I won’t play. It’s one of those things. As much as there is a fire inside to win this, it’s still realistically, it’s my child. 

“I’m not going to risk missing the birth of my child. God forbid, if there was any complications while the birth was taking place, I wouldn’t forgive myself.”

Irwin initially thought he would be right for the grand final but concedes now it’s getting too close for comfort.

“The thing is, winning a fortnight ago, I thought yep, you beauty, we’ve got two weeks, due on the Thursday we’ll get it out. Worst case scenario early this week but (Jessica) just has not played the game,” he said with a laugh.

“She’s stressing as well, she knows it’s probably my last game of footy, she knows how much I want this and I want to go, but at the same time, it’s four hours away and in the past, our other two children have been express, like within the hour.”

Irwin told the Crows on presentation night last year that he had retired. It’s only due to the persistance of his good mate, and travelling buddy, Toby Conroy and the desire to deliver Leeton a drought-breaking premiership that got him playing again.

“I was done,” he said.

“Toby kept ringing me, asking me, are you sure, are you sure. Dave Meline called me a couple of times and then it just got back in my head again. After a few weeks off my body started feeling good again, so I thought I’d talk to the wife and she said ok, if you want to go around again, no worries.”

Irwin, 36, said last year’s grand final loss was not a huge factor.

“I’ve lost a few grand finals in the past and have learnt to let them go. And I kind of let it go, but with Toby in my ear, it’s hard to let it go. He’s so passionate, and really wants it and brings you along for the ride,” he said.

Irwin said he would love nothing more than to deliver the Leeton faithful a drought-breaking premiership win.

“It’s such a great place, Leeton. To be honest, it’s one of those things I wish I’d done a little bit earlier,” he said.

“It’s been great. Everyone loves a chat, brings you in. You’re never without a bed, everyone just throws their doors open to you. It’s a great place to be.

“To bring it home for the people of Leeton. It’s been a three year journey, it’s all come to this one point.  This would be so good for the town if we could do it.”

If Irwin does have to pull out, he has the utmost confidence in the Crows still getting the job done. Irwin has played on Collingullie-Glenfield Park full-forward Marc Geppert in their last two meetings.

“To be honest, if I’m not there, I’ve got full confidence in my back six to fill the void,” he said.

“Sammy Cooper, he’s a big guy that can come in and perform a shut down role.”

While it will be his last year, Irwin said he has had some great times travelling from Canberra to Leeton each week.

He did so with Conroy, Michael Wescome and Cam Griggs for the first two years. Then this year, Liam Greenwell and Sean Wilkinson joined the car trip.

“It’s been fantastic, it’s really good,” he said.

“We had Wescombe and Griggs for the last two years and they were fantastic, great blokes and we had some fantastic chats in the car and these blokes have picked up where they left off.”