With the 2014 season now complete, hawthornfc.com.au will review the season of those who played a senior game for the Hawks in 2014 with the help of GM - Football Operations, Chris Fagan.
After playing in two premierships in two weeks last year, Jonathan Simpkin was the unlucky Hawk to miss out on this year’s triumph.
The 27 year old wouldn’t be blamed for thinking he was truly unfortunate, having played 18 of a possible 25 games, including the Qualifying and Preliminary Finals.
Simpkin actually played four more games than he did in 2013 (13), averaging 16.2 disposals, 3.7 marks and 2.2 tackles, while he also booted nine goals in his 18 matches.
Again, he proved to be Hawthorn’s best option as sub for most of the season and, was the specialist late in the season when he was the sub in five of his last nine games.
Proving again to be a prolific ball-winner, Simpkin opened the season with a 23-disposal effort against the Lions in Tasmania and played the first six games before being omitted in Round 7.
He returned the week after, in Round 8 and was forced to assume a key midfield role in the absence of skipper Luke Hodge and veteran Sam Mitchell, performing admirably by picking up 15 (as sub) and 18 disposals against the Swans and Power before picking up 22 touches against GWS in Round 11.
The former Swan and Cat was omitted following that nail-biting win over the Giants though and was challenged by the coaches to improve areas of his game in the VFL.
He responded in his four-game sabbatical with Box Hill between AFL rounds 12 and 16 and was prolific, answering the challenge immediately with a 25-disposal and one goal game in Box Hill’s win over North Ballarat.
In his four games in the VFL, Simpkin averaged 23.5 disposals before finally earning a recall in a crucial game for Hawthorn against Adelaide in Round 17.
Simpkin finished the year strongly, starring against the Crows when he was one of Hawthorn’s best with 24 disposals, four tackles and two goals in arguably his best performance of the year.
His efforts as the sub in rounds 19, 21 and 22 late in the year secured that position in the first two finals, where he was injected late to make an impact in the final term.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to secure him a Grand Final berth, missing out in favour of Cyril Rioli who returned from injury as young Hawk Taylor Duryea assumed the green vest in the decider.
What GM – Footy Chris Fagan said: “Jonathan was the good luck story last year and probably the back luck story this year - he was very unlucky to miss the Grand Final but you’ve got to take the good with the bad.
“It was a good year by him and funnily enough, we think he improved as a player even though he missed out on the Grand Final. He adds good depth and ball-winning ability to our team.
“He again made an important contribution for us during the season either as the sub or as a starter. He was the sub about 10 or 11 times and always came on and made a significant impact but was always able to play well in games where he was selected to start, too.”
Jonathan Simpkin in the news in 2014
- Simpkin an ace in the pack
Videos featuring Jonathan Simpkin in 2014
- Rnd 11 highlight: Simpkin tackle saves the day
- #everymoment: Simpkin
Jonathan Simpkin celebrates one of his two goals against the Crows.
