Kade Simpson | 2020 Season Review
Written by Joseph Addamo
Throughout the 2020 off-season, Blue Abroad will be providing content to cover everything you need to know about the Carlton Football Club.
After a largely improved season, we will be reviewing every player that pulled on the famous Navy Blue guernsey in 2020.
This is the Blue Abroad Player Review for Carlton’s #6 – Kade Simpson.
SEASON SYNOPSIS
It’s an honour and a privilege to cover Kade Simpson’s 18th and final season as an AFL footballer and Carlton icon. For an in-depth look at ‘Simmo’s career stats and influence while at the Carlton Football Club, have a read of the Blue Abroad tribute article: https://www.blueabroad.com.au/the-latest/carltons-warrior-farewell-simmo?fbclid=IwAR35VXrCsBygjsO14kQzds3jKfaO7rCUd5sD93I5bYVZ1DX1xau0afPchAA.
‘Simmo’ well and truly retired at the top of his game. While not reaching the heights of his 2013 or 2016 seasons, Simpson showcased his ability to still match it with the best of them coming out of Carlton’s defensive half. He averaged 15.5 disposals going at a club-high 77.9% efficiency for the season. His 3.4 rebound 50s per game highlighted the bounce and zip that still existed in those 36-year-old legs. His ability to read the play behind the football was as good as ever, averaging 4.9 intercept possessions as a key defensive stalwart for the Blues.
Kade Simpson was the heart and soul of this football club. He will forever be cut from the cloth of this Navy Blue jumper, and in his final season, he showed what it means to pull on that guernsey every single week. Whoever is looking to take the mantle of ‘Simmo’s former position (all signs point to Adam Saad) has enormous shoes to fill if they are looking to uphold the same standard this man did over his entire career.
BEST PERFORMANCE
‘Simmo’ left his best performance of the season to last against the Brisbane Lions in Round 18. The game got off to a hot start, and it looked as though the Blues would “do it for Simmo” one last time. Unfortunately, another fadeout in the second quarter ultimately cost them the win, but Simpson fought to the bitter end.
He finished the game with 19 disposals, 16 kicks and 7 rebound 50s, but it was his goal in the third term that will be etched in the memory of Carlton fans for years to come. In a way only ‘Simmo’ could, he took the ball on the edge of the corridor in pouring rain and hit a target by foot on the half-forward line. Without breaking stride, he left his Brisbane counterpart behind and got the immediate handball receive, lowered his eyes heading inside 50 and kicked truly at full tilt from the edge of the paint. Embraced by his teammates from across the field, it was a goal to cap off a remarkable career, and one of the feel good moments of the year that stood out among so many others for Blues fans.
2020 REPORT CARD RATING
B
STATUS HEADING INTO 2021
Retired
