He was Carlton's first pick in that year's draft, after the club was stripped of its higher selections as punishment for salary cap infringements.

He finished in the top 5 in the AFL for running bounces, which was typical of his rebound play, averaged 19 disposals with a maximum of 30, and eleven goals.

This style of running play prompted Kevin Sheedy to select Simpson for the Australian International Rules team for the 2006 tour of Ireland, and Mick Malthouse to do likewise for in 2008, a series in which he won the Jim Stynes Medal.

[6] In the 2013 season, Simpson won the John Nicholls medal, Carltons best and fairest award.

Kade had 533 disposals that season, after an outstanding year playing at half-back flank position under new coach Mick Malthouse.

With the retirement of Daniel Wells at the end of the 2019 season,[8] Simpson became the last remaining senior player from the 2002 AFL draft.

[10] He retired at the end of the 2020 season, finishing with 342 senior games – the third most of any Carlton player in the club's history.