Carlton veteran Kade Simpson is not ready to put an ‘end date’ on his career
At age 36, Kade Simpson feared his playing days could be over during the coronavirus shutdown. Does he have more left in the tank, or will 2020 be his last season? The ageing star reveals his plans.
Carlton
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Carlton veteran Kade Simpson is refusing to put an “end date” on his AFL career, but has vowed to play every match as if it’s his last once the season is rebooted in June.
After turning 36 earlier this month, Simpson admitted he had feared during the height of the COVID-19 shutdown – with uncertainty over the season – he might have played his last AFL game in the navy blue.
The Blues stalwart was aware a decision on his playing future was unlikely to be one he made alone, but was not ready to put a line through his career just yet.
“I will never put an end date on it. I think when it happens, it happens,” Simpson said.
“In AFL you don’t get to make those decisions too often by yourself, it’s usually a conversation with the club. The last three or four years I have probably gone into it thinking it could be my last.
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“I will go into the rest of this season and there are so many things to weigh up – how the body is going, how the side is going, whether the club still needs you or values you, whether there was a role there to play. There are so many different factors to consider.
“But I’m not going to come out and say definitely it’s my last year because you never know.”
With father time up against the 326-game veteran, Simpson is no doubt more eager than most to get the game restarted and make the most of however much time he has left.
The half-back admitted isolation had given him plenty of time to ponder his future.
“When you are by yourself, your mind wanders and does go to those sorts of things where you think maybe I have already played my last game,” Simpson said.
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“But the last couple of weeks you have seen that light at the end of the tunnel and it was looking like footy was going to come back, definitely the motivation levels picked up and the mood picked up as well that footy is going to get back. I’m just really excited to get back out there.
“At my age, every game could be your last and I think you’ve got to treat it that way. I’ve probably been doing that for three or four years.”
Simpson said the Blues didn’t “waste any time” upon their return to the track in small groups this week, but felt his body had pulled up well after relishing in his training time out of the house during the break.
There was more uncertainty, however, on what impact the shutdown would have on an older body during the season after having to go through another mini pre-season.
“That’s the real unknown … if we had played four or five games, it probably would have come at a good time having a bit of a spell,” Simpson sad.
“But being one game into a season it’s probably not ideal especially after completing a full pre-season.
“I’m unsure how it is going to go. I feel good and feel like I’ve still done the work in the little break that we’ve had. We’ll have to just wait and see once games start up again.”
In their first full season under new coach David Teague, Simpson was confident there was plenty of upside for the Blues – and even more so now in an uncharted season he believes has opened right up.
“With what’s happened, the season is probably more open than ever before,” Simpson said.
“Whoever can handle this down period the best, whether there is injuries, who knows, some players might come down with coronavirus and end up missing some games.
“There is so much uncertainty in the year, which has probably evened things out more. I’m really optimistic – it’s such an unknown season – but I think one thing we have just got to be ready to go.”
Simpson had started to lay the groundwork for a potential career in football after his playing days by doing some work in the welfare area with the club’s young players.
But he admits there was now uncertainty about what football roles would be available in the post COVID-19 era with cuts to football departments.
“We have never seen anything like this, so there is just so much uncertainty and with the cuts of football departments spending there is probably going to be limited roles in those positions,” Simpson said.
“Again, if there is something there it would be great but there is so much uncertainty.”
One thing he was certain of was Teague being the right man to take the Blues forward.
“He is definitely the right man for the job,” Simpson said.
“I think what we saw him do the back end of last year with limited time was really unbelievable.
“His biggest strength is his relationships and that hasn’t stopped over the coronavirus shutdown period. I would hate to see his phone bill the last eight weeks because he is always ringing players or on zoom calls.
“His real strength is is player relationships and I know it doesn’t go unnoticed.”
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Originally published as Carlton veteran Kade Simpson is not ready to put an ‘end date’ on his career