Could there be yet another captain looking to jump ship?
The old adage goes: "The captain goes down with the ship," but the 2025 off-season has been anything but.
Steven May, Tom Lynch, Chris Judd, and Ryan Griffen are four of the most notable captains to have left their respective teams this century, and that list is about to grow rapidly.
Zach Merrett’s relationship with Essendon is bordering on untenable, and Oscar Allen is all but certain to nominate Brisbane as his club of choice at any moment.
MORE: Zach Merrett escapes Essendon? What happens if the captain doesn't go down with the ship?
But now, North Melbourne’s Jy Simpkin might be the next captain to abandon his vessel.
North’s skipper reported a frustration with his 2025 on-field role, and his management had “started sounding out clubs to gauge interest” according to 7News Melbourne.
Simpkin was elected as the Roos’ co-captain in 2023 and was promoted to sole captain for the 2025 season.
As reported last week, clubs that lose their skipper generally go down a very treacherous path - this idea would frighten an already timid North Melbourne supporter base.
With an average age of 23.6 years, the Roos have the youngest list in the AFL and have finished in the bottom three in each of the last six seasons, putting even more importance on their experienced players.
However, if Simpkin were to move, a serious trade package would need to be discussed.
In May 2023, Simpkin signed a contract extension that secured him to the Roos until at least the end of the 2029 season.