Fremantle youngster Josh Simpson has been ordered to undertake a personal development program in a bid to resolve the ongoing personal issues that have dogged the midfielder since being drafted in 2012. Simpson has been the subject of a number of disciplinary issues during his short career so far, and the latest indiscretion has cast fresh doubt over the 20-year old’s career with the Dockers.
Simpson was banished to the WAFL earlier this year after refusing to fly to Sydney as travelling emergency, has now been given an extended leave of absence during which time he will work with external counsellors, the AFL Players’ Association and his management team in the hope of salvaging a football career that is in real danger of being cut short due to his continuing problems
After being sanctioned twice so far in 2014, Simpson’s was already was already on thin ice with the club before this latest indiscretion. With his AFL dream now hanging in the balance, the Dockers have made no secret over the fact Simpson is running out of chances of carving out a professional career unless he comes through this development program.
Simpson has only played two games since being selected with pick No.17 in the 2012 national draft, and Fremantle are now clearly running out of patience with a player they had expected great things of when they selected him with their first overall pick. Fremantle’s general manager of football operations Chris Bond made it clear Simpson had plenty of work to do if he is going to turn around his Dockers career.
“Although Josh has been endeavouring to deal with some personal and professional matters, he has not been able to consistently demonstrate the behaviour required of a player at this club,” Bond said.
“We believe that it is in Josh’s best interests – both personal and professional – that his strong focus be on undertaking and successfully completing the program rather than meeting playing or training commitments during this time.”
Without Simpson in the side, Fremantle have produced a decent if unspectacular start to the season. Currently seventh in the AFL ladder, the Dockers have put themselves in a strong position heading into the rest of the season, and are as short as 9/2 with bet365 for this year’s title. While they will be hoping to see Simpson sort himself out and return to action as soon as possible, Fremantle will be well aware that there is more than enough quality in this squad to make up for the loss of a talented but troubled player.
Simpson’s Fremantle team-mate, Michael Walters, admitted Simpson was in danger of ruining a great chance to secure his family’s future with his ongoing problems with focusing on his career and making the best of this chance in the AFL.
“He has got two kids and there is no better way to make money than by playing something you love. He’s the type of kid that does work hard when he wants to, but it’s the sort of thing where he has to do it multiple times, rather than just for a week or two.”
