Ahead of his 299th game – Saturday's clash with St Kilda – the 33-year-old admits he's in better touch than he expected but is realistic about prospects for a player his age.
Simpson was North's best in the weekend's loss to the Brisbane Lions, finishing with 37 possessions, and has been its main ball-winner this season.
"I suppose I'm just trying to stay consistent and not drop off too much," he said from Arden Street on Tuesday morning.
"I'm sure it's going to happen one day. If I can hold off for as long as I'll can, I'll do that. The form's been okay. Unfortunately, we just haven't been winning."
In his 15th season, Simpson won't commit to retirement or prolonging a career that has included two premierships, five years' captaincy and a best-and-fairest award.
Current form, particularly in the absence of key players through injury, could earn him another.
He said his body was feeling good, even after major shoulder surgery at the end of last season, and he was also in a good frame of mind.
"I don't think I'm playing any better or worse," he said. "I'm just playing the same. It's probably a matter of time when it drops off or if it holds.
"People keep telling me when you get towards the end, it's like falling off a cliff. At the moment, I don't know how close to the edge I am. Whether it's two weeks, 10 weeks or another year, I'm not quite sure.
"Every week you're playing footy is a week you don't have to work. I'm a footy tragic. I love watching games and going to the football and playing so if it wound up, I'd probably end up playing local footy at Eltham footy club or something next year.
"The love of the game's still there."
With skipper Brent Harvey sidelined with an elbow injury, Simpson has five years on the next oldest players in the present line-up – Brady Rawlings and Leigh Harding.
North has already unveiled five debutants this season and on the weekend used 12 players with 50 games' experience or less.
"I feel like they're my kids, they're that young," Simpson said. "But they're holding up their end of the bargain. It's probably a matter of our older blokes contributing and playing consistent football and improving.
"[Whether I stay on] probably depends on how the club is with what they're doing with the kids."
With an invitation from Western Jets coach Steve Kretiuk, Simpson has spent time with the TAC Cup club in recent weeks – gaining a greater knowledge of training and development at the under-18 level.
"I'm just trying to learn a little bit about that industry," he said.
