View source for Kade Simpson

{{short description|Australian rules footballer, born 1984}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name                  = Kade Simpson
| image                 = Kade Simpson 2018.3.jpg
| caption               = Simpson playing for Carlton in April 2018
| fullname              = Kade Simpson
| birth_date            = {{Birth date and age|1984|5|5|df=y}}
| birth_place           = 
| death_date            = 
| death_place           = 
| originalteam          = Emerald (Vic)/[[Eastern Ranges]]
| draftpick             = No. 45, [[2002 AFL Draft|2002 National Draft]], {{AFL Car}}
| height                = 183 cm
| weight                = 75 kg
| position              = [[Half-back line#Half-back flank|Half-back flank]] / [[Centre line (football)#Wing|Wing]]
| currentclub           = 
| guernsey              = 
| years1                = 2003–2020
| club1                 = {{AFL Car}}
| games_goals1          = 342 (138)
| statsend              = 2020
| nationalyears1        = 2006–2020
| nationalteam1         = [[Australian International rules football team|Australia]]
| nationalgames_goals1  = 8 (0)
| repstatsend           = 2017
| careerhighlights      = * [[John Nicholls Medal]]: 2013
* 2× [[List of VFL/AFL pre-season and night series premiers|Pre-season premiership player]]: [[2005 Wizard Home Loans Cup|2005]], [[2007 NAB Cup|2007]]
* [[AFL Rising Star|AFL Rising Star nominee]]: [[2005 AFL Rising Star|2005]]
* [[Jim Stynes Medal]]: [[2008 International Rules Series|2008]]
}}

'''Kade Simpson''' (born 5 May 1984) is a former [[Australian rules football]]er who played his entire career with the [[Carlton Football Club]] in the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL).

Simpson predominantly played as a [[Australian rules football positions#Half-back line|half-back flanker]], while also spending time as a [[Australian rules football positions#Midfield|midfielder]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kade Simpson {{!}} AFL|url=https://www.carltonfc.com.au/players/19/Kade-Simpson|access-date=2020-07-21|website=carltonfc.com.au|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-09-13|title=More than a beard with boots|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/carlton-midfielder-kade-simpsons-more-than-a-beard-with-boots/news-story/fadbe2c39fe20d815c65f2dfb07451c6|access-date=2020-07-21|website=www.heraldsun.com.au|language=en}}</ref>

== AFL playing career ==

He grew up a 'left footer' in [[Emerald, Victoria]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Filippo |first1=Cristian |title=A look through the lens: Kade Simpson's last stand in pictures |url=https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/816393/a-look-through-the-lens-kade-simpsons-last-stand-in-pictures |access-date=8 December 2024 |work=Carlton FC |date=20 September 2020}}</ref>

===Carlton===
====Early career (2002-2005)====
Simpson was drafted in the fourth round of the [[2002 AFL Draft]]. He was Carlton's first pick in that year's draft, after the club was stripped of its higher selections as punishment for [[Carlton Football Club salary cap breach|salary cap infringements]]. Carlton were fortunate to have picked Simpson given his skills were immediately apparent, but he did not have enough weight to play regular seniors in his first two seasons; even now, his weight is a relatively light 79&nbsp;kg. He played primarily for Carlton's {{VFL-affiliate}}, the [[Northern Bullants]], in his first two years, and on his few selections in the Carlton senior team, received so little ground time that he did not have a disposal in his first three games.

Simpson first broke into the senior team as a regular in the latter half of 2005. Still eligible for the [[AFL Rising Star]] in his third season on the list, Simpson was nominated in Round 18. He played nine of the last 10 games of the season, missing one game through injury, and his pace and skill began to attract attention.

====Leadership Group and John Nicholls Medal (2006-2018)====
Simpson took a big step up in the 2006 season, being elevated to the leadership group and running 4th in the best and fairest. He played every game, mainly as a running link-man from half-back. He finished in the top 5 in the [[Australian Football League|AFL]] for [[running bounce]]s, which was typical of his rebound play, averaged 19 disposals with a maximum of 30, and eleven goals. This style of running play prompted [[Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)|Kevin Sheedy]] to select Simpson for the [[Australia international rules football team|Australian International Rules team]] for the 2006 tour of Ireland, and [[Mick Malthouse]] to do likewise for in 2008, a series in which he won the [[Jim Stynes Medal]].

By 2007, Simpson had emerged as one of the leaders of the club. He captained the Blues between Rounds 14 and 19 during 2007, in the absence of regular captain and vice-captain [[Lance Whitnall]] and [[Nick Stevens]], and has been vice-captain to [[Chris Judd]] since Stevens' retirement.

In 2010, Kade Simpson had arguably his best season for the Carlton Football Club, polling nine Brownlow votes (Second for Carlton, behind medal-winner Chris Judd). The most noticeable feature of his performances during the season was his tackling ability, because on 12 occasions he laid five or more tackles.

Simpson played 158 consecutive games from Round 15, 2005, until Round 15, 2012, before missing a match with a broken jaw.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4311/newsid/140776/default.aspx|title=Simmo's run comes to an end|date=7 July 2012|access-date=8 July 2012|publisher=Carlton Football Club|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105154310/http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4311/newsid/140776/default.aspx|archive-date=5 November 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He was, at the time, considered the club record holder for most consecutive games,<ref name="simpcons">{{cite web|url=http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4311/newsid/123018/default.aspx|title=Five players into the squad|date=8 Sep 2011|access-date=8 Sep 2011|publisher=Carlton Football Club|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405180227/http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4311/newsid/123018/default.aspx|archive-date=5 April 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> but in December 2012, the AFL amended the interpretation of this record such that [[Bruce Doull]], who missed two club games during his streak due to playing in [[Interstate matches in Australian rules football|interstate matches]] on the same day, assumed the club record with 162 consecutive games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4311/newsid/152174/default.aspx |title=Bruce still the boss |first=Tony |last=de Bolfo |date=7 Dec 2012 |access-date=10 Dec 2012 |publisher=Carlton Football Club }}{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In the 2013 season, Simpson won the John Nicholls medal, Carltons best and fairest award. Kade had 533 disposals that season, after an outstanding year playing at half-back flank position under new coach Mick Malthouse.

In the 2016 season, Simpson had an outstanding year averaging 27.2 disposals per game. He was nominated in the All Australian squad of 40 but was not named in the final 22. He finished second in Carlton's best and fairest award behind defender Sam Docherty.

====300 gamer (2018-2020)====
On 30 June 2018 Simpson became the fifth Carlton player to reach the 300 game milestone.<ref>{{cite web |last1=De Bolfo |first1=Tony |title=300-gamers come home for Simpson |url=http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2018-06-29/300gamers-come-home-for-simpson |website=www.carltonfc.com.au |publisher=Carlton Media |access-date=2 July 2018}}</ref>

In 2019, Simpson signed a one-year contract extension to play on in 2020. With the retirement of [[Daniel Wells (footballer)|Daniel Wells]] at the end of the 2019 season,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/west-aussie-daniel-wells-announces-retirement-ahead-of-collingwood-preliminary-final-ng-b881325509z|title=West Aussie Daniel Wells announces retirement ahead of Collingwood preliminary final|publisher=The West Australian|date=16 September 2019|access-date=23 September 2019}}</ref> Simpson became the last remaining senior player from the [[2002 AFL draft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/afl/news/kade-simpson-carlton-blues-re-sign-contract-list-2020/a8k1yir8xcms1a59uvmon5aim|title=Kade Simpson re-signs for 18th season with Carlton|publisher=Sporting News|date=31 August 2019|access-date=23 September 2019}}</ref> He also decided to step down from the club's leadership group that year.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Benoiton|first=Jake|date=2020-02-16|title=Carlton announce seven-man leadership group for 2020|url=https://www.zerohanger.com/carlton-announce-seven-man-leadership-group-for-2020-38546/|access-date=2020-07-21|website=Zero Hanger|language=en-US}}</ref>

He retired at the end of the 2020 season, finishing with 342 senior games – the third most of any Carlton player in the club's history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/501153/342-and-out-carlton-warrior-calls-it-a-day-after-18-year-career|title=342 and out: Carlton warrior calls it a day after 18-year career|date=15 September 2020|access-date=20 September 2020|publisher=Australian Football League|author=Jourdan Canil}}</ref>  He played 342 games across 18 seasons from 2003 to 2020, including eleven seasons in which he did not miss a game. Playing during an overall unsuccessful period in Carlton's history, he played in 215 losses, the most of any player in VFL/AFL history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/alltime/misc_players.html#02a|title=Miscellaneous Player Records|accessdate=8 June 2024|publisher=AFL Tables}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
===Carlton Football Club AFLW assistant coach (2021-2022)===
Simpson was appointed assistant coach of Carlton's [[AFLW]] team in November 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/837551/simmo-joins-the-game-changers|title=Simmo joins the Game Changers|website=www.carltonfc.com.au|access-date=4 December 2020}}</ref> but left after the 2022 season.

===Hawthorn Football Club assistant coach (2023-present)===
In November 2022, Simpson joined [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]] as an assistant coach under senior coach [[Sam Mitchell (footballer)|Sam Mitchell]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/864915/former-blue-joins-hawks-coaching-panel|title=Former Blues champ joins Hawks' coaching panel, Lions nab ex-Dog|date=10 November 2022|access-date=27 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/afl-kade-simpson-leaves-carlton-to-join-sam-mitchells-coaching-staff-at-hawthorn/news-story/80212aa725c4039969446e500103ca53|title=AFL: Kade Simpson leaves Carlton to join Sam Mitchell’s coaching staff at Hawthorn|date=10 November 2022|access-date=27 June 2024}}</ref>

==Statistics==
: ''Statistics are correct to the end of the 2020 season''<ref>[http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/K/Kade_Simpson.html Kade Simpson's player profile at AFL Tables]</ref>

{{Australian rules football statistics legend}}
{{AFL player statistics start with votes}}
|- 
| [[2003 AFL season|2003]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.0 || 0
|-
| [[2004 AFL season|2004]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 3 || 1 || 1 || 7 || 5 || 12 || 4 || 5 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 2.3 || 1.7 || 4.0 || 1.3 || 1.7 || 0
|-
| [[2005 AFL season|2005]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 15 || 9 || 10 || 118 || 56 || 174 || 57 || 26 || 0.6 || 0.7 || 7.9 || 3.7 || 11.6 || 3.8 || 1.7 || 0
|-
| [[2006 AFL season|2006]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 22 || 11 || 8 || 296 || 124 || 420 || 147 || 53 || 0.5 || 0.4 || 13.5 || 5.6 || 19.1 || 6.7 || 2.4 || 2
|-
| [[2007 AFL season|2007]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 22 || 17 || 12 || 281 || 130 || 411 || 103 || 64 || 0.8 || 0.5 || 12.8 || 5.9 || 18.7 || 4.7 || 2.9 || 3
|-
| [[2008 AFL season|2008]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 22 || 9 || 14 || 242 || 170 || 412 || 137 || 61 || 0.4 || 0.6 || 11.0 || 7.7 || 18.7 || 6.2 || 2.8 || 0
|-
| [[2009 AFL season|2009]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 23 || 15 || 12 || 287 || 202 || 489 || 129 || 82 || 0.7 || 0.5 || 12.5 || 8.8 || 21.3 || 5.6 || 3.6 || 5
|-
| [[2010 AFL season|2010]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 23 || 17 || 19 || 328 || 210 || 538 || 142 || 93 || 0.7 || 0.8 || 14.3 || 9.1 || 23.4 || 6.2 || 4.0 || 9
|-
| [[2011 AFL season|2011]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 24 || 17 || 18 || 361 || 175 || 536 || 147 || 79 || 0.7 || 0.8 || 15.0 || 7.3 || 22.3 || 6.1 || 3.3 || 5
|-
| [[2012 AFL season|2012]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 19 || 15 || 13 || 267 || 159 || 426 || 106 || 62 || 0.8 || 0.7 || 14.1 || 8.4 || 22.4 || 5.6 || 3.3 || 6
|-
| [[2013 AFL season|2013]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 24 || 6 || 9 || 350 || 183 || 533 || 140 || 51 || 0.3 || 0.4 || 14.6 || 7.6 || 22.2 || 5.8 || 2.1 || 9
|-
| [[2014 AFL season|2014]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 22 || 4 || 6 || 349 || 171 || 520 || 139 || 52 || 0.2 || 0.3 || 15.9 || 7.8 || 23.6 || 6.3 || 2.4 || 8
|-
| [[2015 AFL season|2015]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 20 || 3 || 1 || 285 || 175 || 460 || 118 || 42 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 14.3 || 8.8 || 23.0 || 5.9 || 2.1 || 1
|-
| [[2016 AFL season|2016]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 22 || 3 || 0 || 383 || 214 || 597 || 152	|| 54 || 0.1 || 0.0 || 17.4 || 9.7 || 27.1 || 6.9 || 2.5 || 3
|-
| [[2017 AFL season|2017]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 22 || 4 || 3 || 377 || 152 || 529 || 162	|| 59 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 17.1 || 6.9 || 24.0 || 7.4 || 2.7 || 8
|-
| [[2018 AFL season|2018]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 21 || 4 || 0 || 369 || 180 || 549 || 115 || 42 || 0.2 || 0.0 || 17.6 || 8.6 || 26.1 || 5.5 || 2.0 || 6
|-
| [[2019 AFL season|2019]] || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 18 || 3 || 0 || 265 || 101 || 366 || 85 || 46 || 0.2 || 0.0 || 14.7 || 5.6 || 20.3 || 4.7 || 2.6 || 2
|-
| [[2020 AFL season|2020]]{{efn|The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports#Australian rules football|impact of the COVID-19 pandemic]].}} || {{AFL Car}} || 6
| 17 || 1 || 0 || 201 || 63 || 264 || 66 || 19 || 0.1 || 0.0 || 11.8 || 3.7 || 15.5 || 3.9 || 1.1 || 0
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 342 !! 139 !! 126 !! 4766	!! 2470 !! 7236	!! 1949	!! 893 !! 0.4 !! 0.4 !! 13.9 !! 7.2 !! 21.2 !! 5.7 !! 2.6 !! 67
|}

'''Notes'''
{{notelist}}

== Honours and achievements ==
'''Team'''
* 2× [[List of VFL/AFL pre-season and night series premiers|Pre-season premiership player]] ({{AFL Car}}): [[2005 Wizard Home Loans Cup|2005]], [[2007 NAB Cup|2007]]

'''Individual'''
* [[John Nicholls Medal]]: 2013
* Carlton Vice-captain: 2013–2014, 2016
* Women of Carlton Player Ambassador Award: 2015
* Carltonians High Achiever Award: 2014, 2016
* Inner Blue Ruthless Award: 2013, 2016
* [[AFL Rising Star|AFL Rising Star nominee]]: [[2005 AFL Rising Star|2005]]
* [[Jim Stynes Medal]]: [[2008 International Rules Series|2008]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Carlplayer|kade-simpson}}
* {{AFL Tables|K/Kade_Simpson}}
* [http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Kade+Simpson Kade Simpson profile in Blueseum]

{{John Nicholls Medal}}
{{2005 AFL Rising Star nominees}}
{{Jim Stynes Medal}}
{{2006 Australian international rules team}}
{{2008 Australian international rules team}}
{{2010 Australian international rules team}}
{{2017 Australian international rules team}}
{{2002 AFL national draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Kade}}
[[Category:1984 births]]
[[Category:Carlton Football Club players]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Northern Bullants players]]
[[Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Eastern Ranges players]]
[[Category:John Nicholls Medal winners]]
[[Category:Australia international rules football team players]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]