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A DUAL premiership-winning player and former captain at North Melbourne, Adam Simpson is preparing to play for Kyneton in the Bendigo Football League.
In a huge coup for the Tigers, former Kangaroos, Geelong and Richmond forward Kent Kingsley has also lodged paperwork to play for the club.
Simpson and Kingsley had spoken to Kyneton coach and key forward-ruckman Nathan Thompson, who played in the big league with Hawthorn and North Melbourne, about playing for the Tigers this season.
Tigers’ co-coach Derrick Filo said yesterday had yet to confirm when Simpson and Kingsley would play.
“Adam and Kent might be able to play for us this round (at home against Golden Square) or the next,” Filo said.
“Clearances have been lodged, but their availability to play with us depends on other commitments.”
Simpson is in his third season as an assistant coach at Hawthorn.
“Having two players with AFL experience, especially Adam Simpson, will be a huge plus for our young team,” Filo said.
In a 16-year career for North, Simpson starred in the grand final wins in 1996 and ‘99 and he captained the club from 2004 to 2008.
A club champion win by the ruck-rover in 2002 was capped by All-Australian selection.
Filo said an attack led by Thompson and Kingsley would be a huge headache for any defence in the BFL.
After a 12-game stint at North Melbourne, Kingsley went on to win Geelong’s goalkicking award in four consecutive seasons.
He retired from AFL after just three games at his final AFL club, Richmond.
Filo said Thompson, who kicked 327 goals in 179 AFL matches, would be fit to play in this Saturday’s home-ground showdown with Golden Square.
A hamstring injury sustained in the season-opener against Gisborne on Good Friday has kept Thompson on the sidelines.
“He was keen to play against South Bendigo last Saturday, but we decided it would be best to wait another week.”
“We have not had much luck on the injury front,” Filo said.
“Michael O’Brien (who played in the AFL with West Coast) is also a chance to play this week.
“His back injury may not be as bad as we first thought.
“Ben Saliba is a fifty-fifty chance, but Rhys Ellis, another of our key position players, is a couple of games away,” Filo said of their returns from groin and hamstring injuries.