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Jonathan Simpkin
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Jonathan Simpkin (born 28 October 1987) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club, Hawthorn Football Club and Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Nicknamed "Joffa", his younger brother, Tom Simpkin was also a professional Australian rules footballer who played for St Kilda.[1]
Key Information
AFL career
[edit]Sydney
[edit]Originally from Colac, Victoria, Simpkin was first rookie listed by the Sydney Swans with the 16th selection in the 2006 AFL Rookie Draft after playing junior football for the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup. Simpkin spend the 2006 and 2007 season playing for the Sydney Swans reserves team that won the 2006 and 2007 AFL Canberra premierships. Despite being elevated to their senior list for the 2007 season,[2] he was delisted by the Swans at the end of the 2007 season without having played in the AFL. He trained for a period late in 2007 with Melbourne but was not drafted to their squad.[3]
Geelong
[edit]He returned to play for the Colac Tigers in the Geelong Football League.[1] During 2008 he also managed to play 8 games for Geelong in the Victorian Football League (VFL) on permits.[4] In 2009, he was a full-time member of the Geelong (VFL) squad and in 2010 he represented the VFL against WAFL. In December 2010 in the 2011 Rookie Draft he was then selected by Geelong.[5] He continued to play for Geelong in the VFL and despite performing well consistently throughout the season, winning the team's best and fairest award,[6] he was unable to break into the AFL side.
Prior to round 9 of the 2012 AFL season, Simpkin was promoted off the rookie list as a replacement for Nathan Vardy.[7][8] He then made his debut against Western Bulldogs, coming on as the substitute player at three-quarter time.[9] Simpkin again won the Geelong (VFL) best and fairest award in 2012 and also was part of the winning Geelong (VFL) premiership side the same year. Geelong had to reduce the number of rookies from six to four because of new AFL rules, so they decided not to renew his contract and that he became eligible to be on the AFL Delisted Free Agency list.[10]
Hawthorn
[edit]Hawthorn secured former Geelong rookie Jonathan Simpkin during the 2012 AFL Delisted Free Agency Period.[11]
He played his first game for Hawthorn against Adelaide in Adelaide, South Australia, in round six 2013 and finished the season with 13 games. Owing to injury to Brendan Whitecross he was selected for Hawthorn's grand final team and was subbed on at three quarter time winning a premiership medal when the Hawks defeated Fremantle, in his first season at the club. He also played in Box Hill's VFL premiership team winning the Norm Goss Memorial Medal for his best on ground performance that day.
Simpkin played only one AFL game for Hawthorn in 2015 (a round 7 win over Melbourne) and he was delisted In October.[12]
Essendon
[edit]In January 2016, Simpkin signed with the Essendon Football Club as a "top-up" player due to the supplements controversy.[13]
Statistics
[edit] G
|
Goals | K
|
Kicks | D
|
Disposals | T
|
Tackles |
B
|
Behinds | H
|
Handballs | M
|
Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 2006 | Sydney | 29 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| 2007 | Sydney | 29 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| 2011 | Geelong | 46 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| 2012 | Geelong | 46 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 13 | 35 | 8 | 7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 5.5 | 3.3 | 8.8 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0 |
| 2013# | Hawthorn | 32 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 123 | 104 | 227 | 49 | 31 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 8.8 | 7.4 | 16.2 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 0 |
| 2014 | Hawthorn | 32 | 18 | 9 | 5 | 152 | 139 | 291 | 66 | 39 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 8.4 | 7.7 | 16.2 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 1 |
| 2015 | Hawthorn | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0 |
| 2016 | Essendon | 52 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 41 | 74 | 13 | 6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 8.3 | 10.3 | 18.5 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 0 |
| Career[14] | 41 | 17 | 10 | 333 | 301 | 634 | 138 | 85 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 8.1 | 7.3 | 15.5 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 1 | ||
Honours and achievements
[edit]Team
- AFL premiership player (Hawthorn): 2013
- Minor premiership (Hawthorn): 2013
- VFL premiership player (Geelong VFL): 2012
- VFL premiership player (Box Hill): 2013
- Minor premiership (Box Hill): 2015
Individual
- Norm Goss Memorial Medal: 2013
- 2× Geelong (VFL) best and fairest: 2011, 2012
- Col Austen Trophy: 2015
References
[edit]- ^ a b Gullan, Scott (26 February 2011). "Simpkin brothers Jonathan and Tom show resilience to keep their AFL dreams alive". Herald Sun. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ Hinds, Richard (26 October 2006). "Changes leave four spots on Swans list". Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ Breen, Daniel (9 November 2007). "Colac footballer hopes to impress the Dees". Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ Auciello, Michael (14 February 2008). "Simpkin aims to kickstart VFL career".
- ^ Rielly, Stephen (8 December 2010). "Demons give ruckman lifeline". The Australian. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ Simpkin Cats VFL best Archived 20 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Walsh, Courtney (25 May 2012). "The absence of Matthew Scarlett was the difference in the loss to Collingwood". The Australian. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ Wade, Nick (25 May 2012). "Persistence pays for Cat Joffy Simpkin". Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ Cats Dig Deep To Defy Dogs Archived 20 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ http://www.news.com.au/national/former-geelong-players-tom-gillies-and-jonathan-simpkin-find-news-homes-at-melbourne-and-hawthorn/story-e6frfkp9-1226516099513 [dead link]
- ^ "Hawks secure Simpkin - Official AFL Website of the Hawthorn Football Club". Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
- ^ King, Travis (30 October 2015). "Hawks dump premiership midfielder Jonathan Simpkin". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ "Simpkin signs". essendonfc.com.au. Bigpond. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ^ "Jonathan Simpkin stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
External links
[edit]- Jonathan Simpkin's playing statistics from AFL Tables
Jonathan Simpkin
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Junior football
Simpkin, originally from Colac in Victoria's Western District, developed his early football skills in the local community leagues before advancing to higher levels of junior competition.[7] In 2005, at age 17, he represented the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup, the premier under-18 development league in Victoria, where he competed against top young talent from across the state.[6] His performances in the competition highlighted his versatility as a midfielder, though he went undrafted in the AFL National Draft that year. Shortly after, Simpkin's potential was recognized when the Sydney Swans selected him with the 16th pick in the 2006 rookie draft, marking his entry into professional pathways.[6]Family background
Jonathan Simpkin was born on 28 October 1987 in Colac, Victoria, where he grew up immersed in the local Australian rules football culture.[8] He comes from a football-oriented family, with three younger brothers who also pursued the sport at competitive levels. His brother Tom Simpkin, born in 1990, was listed as a defender for the St Kilda Football Club from 2009 to 2015, debuting in 2011 and appearing in 11 AFL matches after being drafted in 2008.[9][4] The brothers occasionally faced off in matches, adding a layer of family rivalry to their careers, as seen in a 2011 VFL clash between Geelong and St Kilda reserves teams.[10] His other brothers, Nick and Lachie Simpkin, also played for the Colac Tigers.[8]AFL career
Sydney Swans
Jonathan Simpkin was selected by the Sydney Swans with the 16th pick in the 2006 AFL Rookie Draft after going undrafted in the national draft the previous year.[11] As a hard-running midfielder from Colac, Victoria, he joined the club at age 18 and spent his initial season developing in the reserves side, where he contributed to their AFL Canberra premiership win that year.[6] Simpkin played a role in key moments, such as goaling on the run during the grand final against Belconnen to help secure the victory.[12] In 2007, Simpkin was elevated to the Swans' senior list at the end of the previous season, providing him an opportunity to push for a debut amid a competitive midfield group.[13] However, he remained in the reserves for the entire campaign, where he showed marked improvement in the second half of the year, particularly in accountability, game intensity, fitness, and endurance.[14] His efforts helped the reserves team achieve back-to-back premierships, defeating Belconnen again in the grand final to claim their third straight title in the competition.[6] Despite his reserves success, Simpkin did not break into the senior side during his two years with the Swans, recording zero AFL games. He was delisted at the end of the 2007 season as the club prioritized other prospects.[3]Geelong Cats
After being delisted by the Sydney Swans at the end of the 2007 season, Jonathan Simpkin joined the Geelong Football Club's Victorian Football League (VFL) affiliate in 2008 as a non-listed player. While continuing to play for his local club, the Colac Tigers, in the Geelong Football Netball League, he appeared in eight games for Geelong's VFL side that year on permit. The following season, Simpkin transitioned to a full-time role with the VFL Cats, establishing himself as a consistent midfielder despite early injury interruptions. By 2011, Simpkin had played 59 games for the Geelong VFL team and emerged as a standout performer, having earned selection in the Victorian representative side for an interstate match against Western Australia in 2010.[11] That year, he won the Cats' VFL best and fairest award in a close count, polling 464 votes to edge out Andrew McLean by four votes. His form continued into 2012, where he secured the best and fairest honor for a second consecutive season and contributed to Geelong's VFL premiership victory. Ahead of round nine in 2012, Simpkin was elevated to Geelong's AFL rookie list following an injury to Nathan Vardy, making his senior debut against the Western Bulldogs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He went on to play four AFL games for the Cats that season, including their elimination final loss to Fremantle. At the end of 2012, Simpkin was delisted by Geelong and signed with Hawthorn as a delisted free agent.[15]Hawthorn Football Club
Simpkin was delisted by Geelong and signed with Hawthorn as a delisted free agent at the end of the 2012 AFL season.[15] He made his debut for the Hawks in round six of 2013 against Adelaide and went on to play 14 games that season, kicking six goals.[1] His performance included a career-high 33 disposals in a round nine win over Gold Coast.[1] Simpkin contributed to Hawthorn's 2013 premiership success, starting as the substitute in the Grand Final victory over Fremantle.[3] He also played a key role in the club's VFL affiliate, Box Hill Hawks, securing a premiership that year and earning best-afield honors in the Grand Final.[16] In 2014, he appeared in 18 games, booting nine goals and receiving one Brownlow Medal vote for a strong performance against the Brisbane Lions.[1] Simpkin's opportunities diminished in 2015, managing just one AFL game before being delisted by Hawthorn in October of that year after 33 senior appearances and 15 goals overall for the club.[3][1] Despite limited play at the top level in his final season, he remained a consistent performer in the VFL for Box Hill.[16]Essendon Football Club
In January 2016, following his delisting from Hawthorn at the end of the 2015 season, Jonathan Simpkin signed with Essendon as one of ten "top-up" players to help fill the club's roster amid the ongoing supplements saga, which resulted in suspensions for 34 players from the 2012-2015 period.[5][7] At 28 years old, Simpkin brought experience from 37 prior AFL games across Geelong and Hawthorn, including a 2013 premiership, making him a valuable addition to support the depleted senior list.[6] Simpkin made his Essendon debut in Round 1 of the 2016 season, a 61-point loss to Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium, where he wore jersey number 52 and contributed in the midfield. He followed this with two more AFL appearances in the early rounds, showcasing his versatility as a pressure forward and inside midfielder before sustaining a hamstring injury during the Round 7 loss to Sydney, which sidelined him for nine weeks.[7] During his absence, he continued to feature in the VFL for Essendon's reserves side, maintaining match fitness and contributing to their campaign.[6] Simpkin returned to the AFL side in Round 17, playing in a 21-point win over Gold Coast, where he recorded his sole goal for the club in what would be his final senior appearance of the season. He played a total of four AFL games for Essendon in 2016, averaging 18.5 disposals per game, but was unable to secure a regular spot amid the club's transitional year. At the end of the season, Simpkin was delisted as the top-up arrangements concluded and Essendon's suspended players began returning.[7][1]Local football career
Return to Colac Tigers
After concluding his AFL career with Essendon at the end of the 2016 season, where he played four games as a top-up player,[1] Jonathan Simpkin spent 2017 with Balwyn in Melbourne's Eastern Football Netball League.[17][6] He then returned to his hometown club, the Colac Tigers, in the Geelong Football Netball League (now known as AFL Barwon Football Netball League) for the 2018 season as a marquee signing, reuniting with his brothers Tom and Lachlan who were also on the club's list.[18][17] This marked his second stint with the Tigers, having previously played there in 2008 while also appearing in the Victorian Football League for Geelong.[6] Simpkin's return was highly anticipated, with the midfielder-forward immediately establishing himself as one of the league's premier players. Entering the 2018 season, he was ranked number one in the Geelong Football League's Top 50 players by local media, praised for his experience from 41 AFL games across four clubs and his ability to influence contests at the local level.[18] During the year, he contributed significantly to Colac's campaign, averaging strong disposal counts and goal-kicking returns in a side that reached the finals.[19] Despite early tribunal issues, including a one-match suspension for a high contact incident, Simpkin maintained his form and was instrumental in key wins, drawing on his premiership-winning pedigree from Hawthorn in 2013.[20] At the mid-point of the 2018 season, Simpkin announced his intention to retire at year's end, citing a desire to focus on family and local commitments after nearly two decades in competitive football, including his debut for Colac in 2004 where he kicked five goals.[19] However, he ultimately extended his tenure with the Tigers, continuing to serve as a leader and versatile performer in subsequent seasons. His presence helped bolster Colac's midfield depth and forward line, contributing to consistent finals appearances and earning him best-on-ground honors in several matches.[21] By blending AFL-honed skills like clean ball-winning and forward pressure with local knowledge, Simpkin became a cornerstone of the club's resurgence in the competitive Barwon league.[17]Recent seasons
Following his earlier stints with the Colac Tigers, Jonathan Simpkin has continued to feature prominently in the Geelong Football Netball League (GFNL) into his late 30s, serving as a veteran midfielder and forward for the club. In the 2023 season, Simpkin played a key role in Colac's campaign, including kicking three goals in a loss to South Barwon and two goals in a defeat to St Mary's, while also returning from injury to bolster the team for finals. His experience was highlighted as a factor in the Tigers' push, with coach Rowan McSparron noting the impact of Simpkin alongside other returning players in the September elimination final.[22][23][24] During the 2024 GFNL season, Simpkin remained a consistent performer, earning recognition among the best players in Colac's 73-point victory over the Geelong West Giants in late August, which kept the Tigers in top-five contention. His midfield presence helped drive the team's strong form late in the year, contributing to their overall competitiveness despite not advancing deep into finals.[25] In 2025, at age 37, Simpkin continued to turn heads with his endurance and skill, playing a pivotal role in Colac's resurgence to the GFNL preliminary final. He was involved in a controversial charging incident against St Joseph's in July, which he escaped via an early guilty plea, avoiding suspension. Later that month, Simpkin nearly sealed a win with a goal just before the siren in a match against Newtown & Chilwell. In the preliminary final loss to St Mary's in September, he kicked the Tigers' only second-quarter goal, helping to narrow the margin temporarily, and was credited with sparking the team's effort alongside Darcy Lang. Approaching his 38th birthday in October, Simpkin indicated that a premiership win would prompt his retirement, marking a potential fairy-tale end to his local career after over 300 games for Colac.[26][27][28][17][29]Career statistics
AFL statistics
Simpkin appeared in 41 Australian Football League (AFL) matches between 2012 and 2016, primarily as a midfielder, accumulating 634 disposals, 138 marks, 85 tackles, and 17 goals.[1] His career averages were 15.5 disposals, 3.4 marks, and 2.1 tackles per game, with a peak performance in 2014 when he played 18 games for Hawthorn and recorded 291 disposals.[1] The following table summarizes his key AFL statistics by season:| Season | Club | Games | Goals | Behind | Kicks | Handballs | Disposals | Marks | Tackles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Geelong | 4 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 13 | 35 | 8 | 7 |
| 2013 | Hawthorn | 14 | 6 | 5 | 123 | 104 | 227 | 49 | 31 |
| 2014 | Hawthorn | 18 | 9 | 5 | 152 | 139 | 291 | 66 | 39 |
| 2015 | Hawthorn | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| 2016 | Essendon | 4 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 41 | 74 | 13 | 6 |
| Total | 41 | 17 | 10 | 333 | 301 | 634 | 138 | 85 |
Local league statistics
Upon returning to the Colac Tigers in the Geelong Football Netball League (GFNL) in 2009, Jonathan Simpkin established himself as a prolific performer in local football, contributing significantly to the club's competitiveness while balancing periods of VFL/AFL involvement.[4] His local career highlights his versatility as a midfielder-forward, with consistent goal-scoring output and leadership in key matches. Over his tenure with Colac, Simpkin has played 313 games, kicked 372 goals, and earned 109 best-on-ground awards, underscoring his enduring impact at age 38.[21] In recent seasons, Simpkin has maintained elite production, often leading Colac's scoring and disposal counts while adapting to a more forward-focused role. The following table summarizes his key statistics from the 2023–2025 GFNL seasons:| Season | Games Played | Goals | Best-on-Ground Awards | Average Disposals | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 16 | 28 | 4 | 18.7 | Averaged 1.7 goals and 6.1 marks per game; ranked 44th in GFNL top 100 with 70.7 ranking points.[30][31] |
| 2024 | 16 | 28 | 2 | N/A | Strong mid-season form, including 22 disposals and 6 inside-50s in Round 12; contributed to Colac's finals push.[32][33] |
| 2025 | 20 | 39 | 2 | N/A | Career-high goals in a season; booted 6 goals in Round 1 and played in Preliminary Final; Colac lost the preliminary final to St Mary's and did not win the premiership; Simpkin announced potential retirement if Colac won the flag, but no update on his status as of November 2025.[21][17][28] |
