TROUBLED youngster Josh Simpson has been delisted by Fremantle bringing to an end a turbulent two years in the AFL system for the first-round draft pick.
The 20-year-old was selected with pick No.17 in the 2012 NAB AFL draft but managed just two games in two seasons.
He debuted against St Kilda in round 23 2013, but his 2014 season was marred by off-field problems. He was twice fined undisclosed amounts for failing to meet club requirements.
The first incident occurred in January during the pre-season with a second in April. Simpson played his second AFL match against Essendon in round four and was selected as the travelling emergency the following week but failed to board the flight to Sydney.
The club stood him down from selection before he returned to play for Peel Thunder in the WAFL. But in June he was granted a leave of absence from the club to undertake a personal development program, which was overseen by Fremantle but involved the AFL Players' Association, Simpson's management and outside counsellors.
Fremantle football operations manager Chris Bond said the decision to delist Simpson came after he failed to meet the strict requirements of the program.
"As we do with all players on our list, we have provided Josh with significant support and resources, including a personal development program which was carefully put together to assist him in dealing with personal and professional matters he faced away from football," Bond said.
"The personal development program included guidelines and protocols that Josh was required to strictly adhere to. Unfortunately, Josh was not able to consistently fulfil those requirements since undertaking the program in June.
"Josh's inability to consistently fulfil those requirements and, over a period of time, achieve the personal and professional levels required by the club to succeed as a player at the elite level, has resulted in the very difficult decision to delist him.
"Although Josh has been formally delisted, the club will continue to work with him and his management to provide appropriate levels of support and assistance into 2015."
