TonyK
CibbuanoSimpson calls it quits
July 27th 2009 01:28
NORTH MELBOURNE veteran Adam Simpson will play his last AFL match against Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Friday night after announcing his retirement on Monday.
The former Kangaroos skipper said the time was right for him to move on.
"I just think it's time, it's been a great ride, fantastic experiences and what better way to finish it than on Friday night against Carlton," Simpson said.
"No regrets and I feel like I'm leaving the club in a really good state."There's a really good feel around here and I'm just looking forward to the next phase of my life."
"The body is fine and I still think I'm contributing but the timing, it just looks like it's right. My 300th was in Adelaide and my 250th was in the Gold Coast, so from a selfish point of view, Friday night has a good feel to it and the club agrees so it's all good."
Simpson also said he is keen to get involved in coaching.
"I do have a … passion for the coaching side of things," he said.
"I feel like a kid coming out of the Under-18s in that sense, I'm starting at the bottom as a rookie and I want to try and get drafted and then learn as much as I can and then develop as quick as I can."
"It's exciting and I'm really looking forward to that aspect of life."
North Melbourne president James Brayshaw paid tribute to Simpson and said he belongs alongside the club's other greats.
"You're talking about a person of the utmost integrity, a player of enormous courage and underrated skill, and an incredible leader," Brayshaw said.
"When you talk about the great players that have played for this club, the Cables, the Schimmelbuschs, the Greigs, the Blights, the Glendinnings, into Carey, Harvey, Archer, I think Adam Simpson's name is very comfortably a part of that."
"He's one of the greats to have played for our club. It's been a privilege to have him and we will love to have him be around the place for a lot longer but … if opportunities arise in other environments that you want to have a crack at, you should do it."
The 33-year-old will play his 306th game against the Blues placing him equal-second on the club's all-time list behind Glenn Archer (311) and alongside club legend Wayne Schimmelbusch.
Simpson, who made his debut in 1995 after being taken at pick 14 in the 1993 national draft,
played in the Kangaroos' 1996 and 1999 premierships and won the club's best-and-fairest award in 2002.
The former Kangaroos skipper said the time was right for him to move on.
"I just think it's time, it's been a great ride, fantastic experiences and what better way to finish it than on Friday night against Carlton," Simpson said.
"No regrets and I feel like I'm leaving the club in a really good state."There's a really good feel around here and I'm just looking forward to the next phase of my life."
"The body is fine and I still think I'm contributing but the timing, it just looks like it's right. My 300th was in Adelaide and my 250th was in the Gold Coast, so from a selfish point of view, Friday night has a good feel to it and the club agrees so it's all good."
Simpson also said he is keen to get involved in coaching.
"I do have a … passion for the coaching side of things," he said.
"I feel like a kid coming out of the Under-18s in that sense, I'm starting at the bottom as a rookie and I want to try and get drafted and then learn as much as I can and then develop as quick as I can."
"It's exciting and I'm really looking forward to that aspect of life."
North Melbourne president James Brayshaw paid tribute to Simpson and said he belongs alongside the club's other greats.
"You're talking about a person of the utmost integrity, a player of enormous courage and underrated skill, and an incredible leader," Brayshaw said.
"When you talk about the great players that have played for this club, the Cables, the Schimmelbuschs, the Greigs, the Blights, the Glendinnings, into Carey, Harvey, Archer, I think Adam Simpson's name is very comfortably a part of that."
"He's one of the greats to have played for our club. It's been a privilege to have him and we will love to have him be around the place for a lot longer but … if opportunities arise in other environments that you want to have a crack at, you should do it."
The 33-year-old will play his 306th game against the Blues placing him equal-second on the club's all-time list behind Glenn Archer (311) and alongside club legend Wayne Schimmelbusch.
Simpson, who made his debut in 1995 after being taken at pick 14 in the 1993 national draft,
played in the Kangaroos' 1996 and 1999 premierships and won the club's best-and-fairest award in 2002.
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