Simpson required major shoulder surgery at the end of last season, his first operation in 15 years, and says that the four-month process has given him a greater appreciation for players sidelined with long-term injuries.
"I did it with three rounds to go [in the season] and from never doing a shoulder I thought, 'This must be a bit of a sore shoulder. I'll get it strapped and I'll be okay'," he said.
"But mine was a collision injury, I'd landed on it. It didn't pop out or tear or anything, I chipped a bit of the bone of the socket and had a few pins put in there. All of the cartilage is gone. From all reports it was a bit worse than what they thought and that's why the recovery has taken longer."
Thirty-three next month, Simpson has still completed every non-contact training and weights session available to him but admits that the effects of the surgery linger with certain movements.
North's pre-season will make the transition to match-specific training within the next fortnight and Simpson will join in with the rest of his teammates, confident that his shoulder will hold up.
His fitness has improved on the last couple of years, fast-tracking his availability for practice matches and the NAB Cup – "if I get a game," he laughed.
"It's been critical over the years to have good pre-seasons. I don't think I've ever missed a pre-season because I've been injured. It's so important that you get the kilometres in the legs.
"To even get sick for a couple of days, you feel like you're missing out on so much. I've been so lucky that I've never been in that position.
"Even though I've had the operation, I've still managed to complete all the sessions and put myself in a really good position to hopefully have a good year."
Stepping down from the captaincy in November and replaced by Syd Barker Medallist Brent Harvey, Simpson's new focus of his 288-game career is to stay ahead of the youngest players on North's list.
He doesn't want favours for his experience and could stay on in 2010 if he's satisfied with his contributions this year.
"For me it's all about doing everything that a 17-year-old does," Simpson said.
"You've got to prove to yourself that you've still got the drive and the ability to do the same thing that a 17-year-old's doing. When you're given some leeway and can cut a few corners, you can take a few liberties with yourself.
"I'd like to play on again but it's going to come down to how the body is and how I'm playing. If I'm playing well enough, then I'll look at it. But if I'm holding someone back or I'm not up to it or I'm a liability, I won't be making the decision hard for the club.
"I'll be making the decision before they tell me."
