Kade Simpson has lauded coach Brendon Bolton, who he says is ‘obsessive about football’

KADE Simpson may be 33, but he’s showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. The Carlton veteran has attributed it all to coach Brendon Bolton.

Kade Simpson. Photo: AAP Image/Julian Smith

CARLTON veteran Kade Simpson says he wants to play as long as possible under the stewardship of Brendon Bolton.

Simpson will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2017, but he’s poised to extend his career at Carlton, where he has played since 2003.

Sitting on 275 games, another injury-free season would all but ensure Simpson reaches the 300-game club — a huge endorsement for the much-loved defender.

While Simpson recently turned 33, he isn’t showing any signs of slowing down — something the Carlton stalwart attributes to Bolton.

“I can’t speak highly enough of him,” Simpson said on Fox Footy’s AFL Tonight.

“Hopefully my form continues and I can keep up some good form and hopefully there’s a spot for me.

“I’ve got an open communication with Brendon and (Stephen Silvagni) so as long as I’m playing football I think there should be a spot for me. But my form will have to hold up and my body will have to hold up as well.”

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Kade Simpson. Photo: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

Simpson has flourished since Bolton was hand-picked to resurrect the club that Mick Malthouse left in acrimonious fashion midway through 2015.

Last year, Simpson averaged career-high numbers for disposals (27.1) and marks (6.9), as the most senior head in Carlton’s defence.

And while his numbers have dipped slightly this season, it’s probably more of a reflection of the improvement of Carlton’s youngsters — including Jacob Weitering, Caleb Marchbank and Lachie Plowman — than it is a slight on Simpson.

The Blues may only have won four matches, but Simpson believes it’s self-evident that Bolton is taking the club on an upward trajectory.

“He’s really obsessive about his football and he’ll leave no stone unturned to get where he wants to get to,” Simpson said.

“The club is in a really good place under his care. Just the way he goes about his work, he does not miss a thing in team meetings or game day.

“The way he speaks to the boys — whether he needs to give them a cuddle or to give them a rocket or whatever — he’s just so switched on.”

The Blues took their biggest scalp of the year when they defeated ladder leaders GWS on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.

In the fallout from the match, the AFL has issued the Giants with a ‘please explain’ over the behaviour of runner, Nick Maxwell, who was alleged to have impeded play.

Simpson — the club’s designated kick in player — conceded he was unaware Maxwell was on the field so often.

“No I can’t say I did notice and I was kicking in a lot of the time as well. So no, I didn’t have an issue because I didn’t see him,” Simpson said.

“A couple of the kick ins were theirs. That would be helping us if anything. I honestly didn’t notice. It looks like he’s directing traffic.”

Simpson said there was still “a place” for runners in the game, particularly given coaches were only able to deliver messages three times throughout the match.

“I think if you take away runners you might need to bring in time outs or something because the only time coaches can give messages are at the breaks so I think they’re still needed,” he said.

Originally published as Kade Simpson has lauded coach Brendon Bolton, who he says is ‘obsessive about football’