DOB: 09/02/1994
Height: 184cm
Weight: 73kg
Club: East Fremantle/Western Australia
Bio: Exciting medium midfielder/forward with natural speed and agility. Dangerous player around goal and very capable overhead for a player of his size. Represented SA in 2011 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships before returning to his native WA in 2012 where he played four matches and averaged 14 disposals and three tackles a game.
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Upside: Simpson moved from South Australia, where he was on a scholarship at Rostrevor College, back to Perth after last season to be closer to his family who hail from a small town near Geraldton. While the move, and a broken collarbone early in the season, disrupted the continuity of his development he is still a very enticing draft prospect. Simpson is a very quick and creative forward-winger who isn't afraid to take on the game. He's evasive in traffic, very hard to tackle and disposes of the ball well off his right boot as well as his non-preferred left.
"He's a very slick mover - he knows how to move and when to move in traffic. Put a bit of grass in front of Josh and he's off - he'll make the most of the smallest opening. He's a real professional too. He takes his football very seriously, he doesn't just rely on pure skill, and he's a real leader in his community as well." - WA talent manager Raff Guadagnino.
Downside: Simpson can light up a game with a freak goal or a dashing run, but recruiters would like to see him develop his ability to have more of an impact on the contest across four quarters. He has a decent tank, which will only get better, so learning a few tricks of the trade and improving his knowledge of how an AFL midfield ticks will help him in this regard.
Plays like: Simpson's favourite player is Swans star Lewis Jetta and there are some similarities between the two. Simpson is a bit taller than Jetta, but they share a similar build and a long-striding gait that propels them across the ground at a rate of knots.
Draft range: Some consider Simpson a possible top-10 draft pick, but its more realistic to expect he'll get taken somewhere in the 10-to-20 range. He has the pace and skills that would add something to most midfields, but Adelaide, Geelong and North Melbourne could really benefit from bringing him onboard.
In his own words: "I am a team player always and someone who people can rely on. My strengths are my ability to run and carry the ball, my kicking skills and my ability to create space."
Stats from NAB AFL U18 Championships:
| Matches | Kicks | Handballs | Marks | Disposals | Disposal efficiency | Contested possessions | Tackles | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 31 | 25 | 14 | 56 | 60.7% | 22 | 12 | 4.2 |
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
