Kade Simpson set to play 300 games and hasn’t ruled out a flag at Carlton

EVERGREEN Carlton veteran Kade Simpson hasn’t given up hope of a fairytale finish to his AFL career as he joins an illustrious list to play 300 games at Carlton.

Kade Simpson will play his 300th game for the Blues. Picture: Getty Images

EVERGREEN Carlton veteran Kade Simpson hasn’t given up hope of a fairytale finish to his AFL career, saying the bottom-of-the-ladder Blues are capable of rapidly turning their fortunes around.

The 34-year-old, who will join Craig Bradley, Bruce Doull, John Nicholls and Stephen Silvagni as the fifth Carlton player to reach 300 games on Saturday, said recent examples from Richmond and the Western Bulldogs had shown quick turnarounds are possible.

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“It might seem strange to say that when we’re sitting bottom of the ladder,” Simpson said.

“But what the Bulldogs and Richmond did and how even the competition is this year … I don’t think anyone expected the Kangaroos to be in the eight or Collingwood to be in the top four.

“Watching sides like that and how quickly they’ve turned it around, it does give me a lot of hope still.”

Kade Simpson at Ikon Park ahead of his 300th game. Picture: Tony Gough

Simpson said he was a little embarrassed to join the Carlton luminaries in the 300-club, but he hasn’t ruled out playing on again next year, saying his body felt as good as ever.

“It’s always going to be a year-by-year thing,” Simpson said.

“It can all end pretty quickly when you’re in your 30s.”

“It’s just going to be a discussion at the end of the year with (Brendon) Bolton and ‘SOS’ (Silvagni), to see how the body is feeling and how the form stacks up.

“I’d like to, at this stage. The body is feeling good and I feel like I’m playing some decent footy still, so I’d like to go around again.”

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Originally published as Kade Simpson set to play 300 games and hasn’t ruled out a flag at Carlton