The Carlton Football Club is delighted to announce that club champion Kade Simpson will join its AFLW program as an assistant coach.
One of the most beloved Blues of all time, Simpson is a welcome addition to Daniel Harford’s coaching staff for the 2021 season.
It is a significant boost for the Game Changers who will see Simpson share his wealth of experience gained across 342 games and 18 seasons at the elite level.
Only Craig Bradley and Bruce Doull have played more games in the Navy Blue guernsey.
His role will also expand to the Club’s new standalone side in the VFL and East Coast Second-Tier Competition, where Simpson will be a line coach, working closely with the AFL side’s young players in helping them take their development to the next level.
The 36-year-old said he was excited by the opportunity to begin the next chapter in his already stellar football journey.
Finish off your week right. ? pic.twitter.com/NFpyhU2jKK
— Carlton Women's (@carltonfc_w) November 20, 2020
“The last few years have shown what our AFLW side is capable of and I’m really looking forward to helping these players bring the ultimate success to the Carlton Football Club,” Simpson said.
“This is a really talented group who work extremely hard, so there is plenty of reasons for our members and supporters to get right behind this side heading into the 2021 season.
“The chance to also work with the reserves program, primarily with the younger players on our AFL list, is a great opportunity. I’ve seen first-hand how hard those players are working to bring success to Carlton and the fact I can help them achieve that is fantastic.
“I’d always hoped to stay involved in football once I retired. To be able to not only do that but also remain with the Blues is terrific and a new challenge that I can’t wait to get started on.”
Carlton GM of Women’s Football Ash Brown said the addition of Simpson to the AFLW coaching staff ticked every box.
“Our players are constantly looking to learn and soak up advice from experienced people in the game, there are few in modern football who can provide that better than Kade,” Brown said.
“His communication and leadership on the field was exceptional over a long period of time and we have no doubt those qualities will see Kade transition perfectly to our AFLW program, providing an invaluable sounding board for our emerging group.
“Also there isn’t a person over the last 20 years who is more suited to passing on to our players what it means to be a Carlton person and the significance of pulling on that Navy Blue guernsey.
“We could not be happier to have Kade on board and it is yet another strong sign of the unified approach we have taken in bringing our AFL and AFLW programs together.”
