Jy Simpkin, captain of North Melbourne, is doing something about it. Now, he has opened negotiations with his management regarding a potential move away from the club. Simpkin currently has four years remaining on his deal at Arden Street. His decision followed a difficult year in which he found it impossible to pin down his place in the Kangaroos’ line-up.
In February, that precocious talent exploded into the world’s consciousness. He took home the mantle of best on ground in the Indigenous All Stars’ pre-season game against Fremantle. As the 2025 season wore on, he started to get used predominantly as a winger and half-forward. Coach Alastair Clarkson changed his approach to focus on young players in the engine room. Due to this, Simpkin struggled to find his rhythm playing in his natural role of an inside midfielder.
No matter what, Simpkin battled through it all and capped off a strong season by placing fifth in the club’s best and fairest awards. He received high marks internally for how quickly he found his foothold in this new position. He faced the prospect of a deep trough of form in the middle of the season. It’s the result of these experiences that have driven Simpkin to look for opportunities outside of his home county.
At 27 years old, Simpkin finds himself at a defining crossroads in his career. That interest from other clubs has only fueled speculation about his future. As fellow captains Oscar Allen and Zach Merrett have initiated their own departures from their respective clubs, this new development introduced an interesting new angle to Simpkin’s predicament.
As for what North Melbourne can expect in the future, suitable captaincy candidates already have their hands raised. Nick Larkey, Tristan Xerri and Harry Sheezel provide equally compelling leadership prospects. With any of them the club would be able to pursue a change at the helm with a clear conscience. This prospect raises questions about Simpkin’s future role within the team and whether he remains a vital component of the Kangaroos’ plans moving forward.
