HAWTHORN midfielder Jonathan Simpkin says a mid-year stint in the VFL has helped him improve his game as he prepares to take on the Cats in tonight’s first final.
After playing in two premierships last year – one with Box Hill and the other with Hawthorn – Simpkin began the year strongly, playing nine of the first 10 games for the Hawks.
While it looked like he was about to cement a spot in Hawthorn’s talented midfield thanks to a 23-disposal effort in Round 1 and a 30-disposal game against Fremantle in Round 3, his form began to taper off.
He was the sub in Round 6, a role he’s all too familiar with, before picking up just 15 disposals against the Swans in Round 8, 18 against the Power in Round 10 and 22 against the Giants in Round 11.
He was omitted from the side following that thrilling win over GWS by interim coach Brendon Bolton and spent the next five weeks biding his time in the VFL with Box Hill.
A prolific ball winner at the second-tier competition, Simpkin responded immediately with a 25-disposal and one goal game in Box Hill’s win over North Ballarat.
But that wasn’t enough to earn him a recall.
Simpkin averaged 23.5 disposals in four games with Box Hill before finally earning a recall in a crucial game for Hawthorn against Adelaide in Round 17.
The premiership Hawk was exceptional in a stirring win by Alastair Clarkson’s team at Adelaide Oval with 24 disposals and two goals.
Since then, he has filled an important role in the Hawthorn side and added another option to an already talented Hawk midfield.
After 27 disposals, five tackles and a goal in the win over Collingwood, Simpkin cemented his place in the Hawthorn side for the Qualifying Final.
Like last year, he has timed his run perfectly but this time says his stint at Box Hill has made him a better player.
“After spending four or five weeks at Box Hill, I think that held me in good stead to come back and play some better footy in the second half of the year,” Simpkin told hawthornfc.com.au on the even of another finals campaign.
“It was good to get a bit of the ball (against Collingwood) but I probably would have liked to have used it a bit better.
“You always go into games wanting to play well and I guess not being the sub, it was a good opportunity for me to press my case by playing a good four-quarter game to keep my spot in the side.”
Simpkin celebrates one of his two goals against the Crows.
Simpkin has been the sub in three of his last seven matches, a role seemingly well suited to him because of his ability to make an impact in a short space of time.
He had 16 disposals when subbed in at half time against Geelong in Round 22 and 11 and a goal against the Dockers in just over a quarter.
While not his favourite job, he’s willing to do it for the team and the hard-running and ferocious midfielder is a super sub and could be the ace in the pack for Hawthorn if given that role tonight.
“No one really wants to be the sub but I guess I’m happy to do it whenever they want me to,” he said.
“Coming from Geelong last year I didn’t know what was going to happen. Thankfully the Hawks gave me an opportunity and now I’m really excited to start a second finals series here.”
