LAKE Boga ruckman Jacob Simpson has capped off a remarkable first season in the Central Murray Football Netball League, by taking out The Guardian’s LJ Hooker Player of the Year award for 2022.
Simpson polled two votes in the Magpies 91-point win over Tooleybuc-Manangatang in the final home-and-away round of the season, to beat Balranald joint coach and eventual Jack Betts Medallist Jydon Neagle – with Simpson finishing the season on 20 votes and Neagle on 18.
Rounding out the placings were Cohuna Kangas forward Rhys Free and Woorinen inside midfielder Josh Domaille, who both ended the home-and-away season with 17 votes – three behind Simpson.
The dominant ruckman was one of the key factors in Lake Boga’s rise up the ladder in 2022, with the Magpies breaking their 12-year finals drought this season – making it all the way to the semi finals before succumbing to Woorinen by 21 points.
While disappointed to not be playing tomorrow, Simpson told The Guardian this week that with a bit of luck he’ll be returning next season to try and take the Magpies deeper into the season – and hopefully break an even longer drought this time next year.
“We fell a bit short in the end and I think we had our chances in the semi final, but just a couple of injuries and a few things didn’t quite go our way – but that’s footy I suppose,” Simpson said.
“Returning next season is definitely on the cards, we’ve spoken about it a bit, but I’m just going to give it a couple of weeks and let the body rest up a bit – but it’s definitely on the cards.
“It’s a great club to play for and from the sound of it, the culture over the last couple of years has definitely improved and their performance on the field is improving as well.
“They’re developing a really good base of younger players, which is great for the future of club and hopefully some success is just around the corner.
“Even from the start of this year, the young boys have improved heaps. We definitely have a younger side, but by the end of the season those boys had come on in leaps and bounds and we’re playing some really good footy.”
Simpson came to the Magpies with huge wraps on him from up north, and repaid the faith the club showed in him in spades, by not only winning The Guardian LJ Hooker Player of the Year, but also taking home Lake Boga’s seniors Best & Fairest last Sunday.
“I thought I went pretty well to be honest – it was nice to have a season with no injuries which helps,” Simpson said.
“In the end, I think I only missed two games, but it also helps having coaches like Shawn (Filo) and Angus (Monfries) and the team we have out there at Boga certainly helped to bring out the best in my football.”
Along with thanking the club, Simpson also paid particular credit to his coaches at Lake Boga, who he said were not only fantastic to play under, but also knew exactly how to get the best out of him.
“They’ve been great for me – Shawn’s (Filo) hard on us, but I think that’s a good thing to be honest, especially with a young and developing group,” Simpson said.
“Angus (Monfries) is outstanding as well – the first week we all flew down, Gus’ was the one who drove us up there so we got to know him pretty well.
“He’s a great bloke and a great footballer – he probably didn’t quite have the season he would have wanted to with a few injuries and the like, but between both of them, they definitely work well together and the put in a heap of work and time behind the scenes as well which, is what you want from your senior coach.”
