Kade Simpson will join esteemed company this Sunday when he runs through the banner, including Carlton greats Anthony Koutoufides, Stephen Kernahan and Alex Jesaulenko. 

Carlton’s little warrior, who puts his body on the line each week, will play his 250^th game for the Old Dark Navy Blues against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.

Speaking to SEN on Wednesday ahead of his milestone game, Simpson says although the years and games have flown by quickly, it has been a “long journey”. 

“It’s been a long journey and at times a hard journey, but it will be something I’m pretty proud of once the career is done and dusted.” 

Simpson was drafted by the Blues with pick 45 in the 2002 national draft, and made his debut the following year against Geelong in Round 11.

In his 14^th season at Ikon Park, the recently 32-year-old defender says with the influx of new coaches and recruits, he’s feeling “reinvigorated” about what the future may hold.

Simpson has continually been a shining light for the Blues throughout a tough period in Carlton’s history, with his endeavour and love of the jumper never waivering. 

“I’m pretty self-motivated and pretty competitive, so anytime you step out over the white line you’re in it up to your ears,” Simpson said.

“You just want to perform and you don’t want to let yourself down and the Club down…it’s what you get paid to do and it’s what you have to keep doing.”  

After a number of rocky years the Club has a new, clear direction under coach Brendon Bolton, and small results are starting to show.

On Saturday the Blues recorded three wins in a row for the first time since 2014, victories the players have been working hard towards according to Simpson. 

“I think the last three weeks have been good, I think we were building towards this period early on in the year but we weren’t getting the reward,” Simpson said.

“We were sort of having lapses in a quarter or so and sides would put us away in that 30 or 40 minutes of footy that we weren’t performing in, but the last couple of weeks especially we’ve sort of strung together four quarters. 

“There’s still a lot of areas to improve on, but to get the results we’re after is a reward for effort.” 

When asked if he knew where the gym was, our lightly framed defender laughed, replying: “I’m just standing outside it right now doing this interview, so I do know where it is,” he joked.

To celebrate Simpson’s 250^th game the Club is offering a special edition ‘Simmo’ membership. For more details, click here.