This article was originally published in 2018 in celebration of Kade Simpson's 300 game milestone. 

CLUB warrior Kade Simpson will run out for his 300^th game in the Navy Blue against Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday.

As the man responsible for bringing the veteran to Carlton, former Blues recruiting manager Shane O’Sullivan managed the task despite unfavourable circumstances.

“It was quite a tough time at the Blues at that time. We were in trouble with the salary cap,” O’Sullivan recalled.

“All year we had been wooing Brendon Goddard and Daniel Wells. That was sort of all set. Then really the night before the actual draft we got told we’ve got these penalties.”

Carlton lost picks Nos. 1, 2, 31 and 34 in the 2002 national draft as a result of salary cap breaches. Much further down the list, a fourth-round selection would be the first for the Blues.

Luckily, O’Sullivan had a man in mind.

“We found out that we were going to lose our picks on the Friday night. The next day we arranged to have a meeting,” he said.

“We as a club really rated Kade. We certainly didn’t do a lot of talking to him because at one stage we probably weren’t going to get those chances, but once we lost our draft picks, we certainly had to change tack.

“We had him in the top 25 of our picks. We were lucky enough he was there at pick 45, and I pressed the button as quickly as I could.

“I never thought he would make an immediate impact but felt that he could be a really good AFL player given time.

“I’ve seen players that I think could walk straight in and be long-term AFL players with all the talent, but they haven’t had the desire or that mental strength.

“The great thing with Kade is he has that.”

Simpson was a shining light in dim circumstances for the club during that period. Sixteen seasons later, the 34-year-old remains a staple of Carlton’s fold.  

While selectors would not have predicted their pick 45 would eventually join the ‘300 Club’, O’Sullivan said there were signs of greatness early on.

He recalled seeing promise from Simpson in his junior football days for the Eastern Ranges.

“He was a terrific ball handler. He played on the wing and half-forward, so it was probably a bit different to now playing half-back,” O’Sullivan said.

“He was just a courageous young fella. He had good skills, he could find the footy all the time.

“There was a game out at Box Hill. He was on the wing that day, and some of the things he did in tight situations, and the way he went about it, ticked it even better for me.

“It was certainly one game that stood out to me, watching him play. He had his great mate Brad Fisher, who also played very well that day."

Despite his size and being selected at a relatively low pick, the No. 6 for the Blues has proven he is a true warrior of the game.

It wasn’t an easy transition into Carlton’s senior side for the skinny kid from Emerald, however. O’Sullivan recalled that Simpson’s first few AFL games were fairly forgettable for the then new Blue.

“He won’t mind me saying that in his first three or four games he hardly got a possession, but from then he just grew in confidence,” O’Sullivan said.

“He showed a real strength of character to cope with all that. I think people like Denis Pagan, when he was the senior coach, encouraged him to keep at it.

It wasn't smooth sailing for Kade Simpson in his first few games. (Photo: AFL Media)

“He’s not a big-looking man now but he was a lot thinner then. One day in Adelaide he broke his thumb during the game and probably shouldn’t have gone back on, but in a difficult situation when we weren’t going that well, he put his hand up and out he went.

“The good thing is you can be any shape or size and you just work it out over time. Over the journey he has learnt how to prepare and what he needs to do.

“I think in later times he has even got better at training. He has probably learned off people like Chris Judd and some of those players we have had here, how to go about it and how to prepare for games.

“Certainly, when he went out there sometimes, the little skinny fellow, you worried for his safety. I don’t know if he has put much weight on since then, but he’s certainly got as much courage as any player that’s ever played.”

Any Carlton supporter will testify to the dedication and courage the 181cm defender has shown throughout his time in the navy blue.

In his interview with Carlton Media, O’Sullivan also spoke about the incredible career Simpson has had since arriving at the Blues in 2002...

O'Sullivan on the 300-game milestone

“You never think they’re going to play 300 games. I suppose picking him at that pick, a lot of people probably wouldn’t have thought that someone his size would get to it and play a lot of AFL footy.

“But I think one of the great things about our game is it doesn’t matter what size you are, if you have got the desire and the ability you can make it.

“Certainly, once you spoke to Kade, saw his desire, and his great family, you could support you knew that he was going to have a good career. But no one knows injury-wise and all of that. He’s been pretty blessed with all of that."

O’Sullivan on Simpson the person

“He’s a pretty private sort of person. I think his great strength with the team is in team meetings. When he speaks, everyone listens.

“Outside of that he is pretty shy, but he is very diligent in the way he goes about things. Everything is neat and tidy. There is a plan to his match day and training preparations. The socks have got to be rolled properly. He always looks the part.

“He has just been a model of consistency and he has always has got a nice smile on his face every time you see him. It’s been an amazing run for him.”

There's never been a shortage of love from Carlton supporters for the little warrior. (Photo: AFL Media)

O’Sullivan on Simpson’s perseverance

“It’s one thing I think of all the time - he’s played that many games and not had a lot of success.

“I think the good thing is he always feels that we are going to win the next game. He always portrays positivity, before the match or during the training week.

“You’ve just got to deal with what you’ve been dealt and get the best out of yourself – which he has."

O’Sullivan on the supporters' love for Simpson

“I think the supporters love someone that is just consistently putting in, and that means a lot - win, lose or draw.

“You see him after a game walking off – when we’ve had a bad day, he takes it pretty personally.

“The fan base knows that he cares a lot about the club and winning and tries to give the supporters something to cheer about.

“In his 250^th game, it was special to see the crowd when the siren went – the jubilation that we won. The crowd responded to the way the players got around Simmo.

“I think they’re going to be sad the day he gives it away.”