Along with coach Scott Beattie, who also makes his way back to the club for season 2024, Simpson is hoping to help turn the club’s fortunes around.
“It’s good, it’s different, but we’ve got a great bunch of boys now and ‘Beatts’ (Scott Beattie) has sort of brought everyone across and we’re starting to rebuild,” he said.
“The last couple years (at Echuca United) have been a bit of a struggle, but it’s starting to feel a lot more like home.”
Having moved from United to the Murray Bombers at the beginning of 2020, Simpson developed into a reliable defender at Echuca, earning an under-18 league best-and-fairest in 2021, before playing 29 senior games across the 2022-2023 premiership seasons.
Simpson was unlucky not to feature in either senior grand final success, especially last year, having played in 18 senior games including the semi-final against Kyabram, although he was named among the best in the reserves triumph in 2022.
While he doesn’t harbour any ill will towards those at Echuca, Simpson admits being left out of the premiership side stung, and perhaps influenced his decision to return to Echuca United.
“It’s not a great feeling (being left out of the side), but you look at Echuca, they had one of the best sides in country Victoria,” he said.
“It did play a role in why I left, but I don’t hold any grudges against Echuca, I wish them the best.
“They're a great side, but I feel like this is where I belong now. All the best to Echuca, but it’s good to be back at United.”
The only premiership coach in Echuca United history, Beattie has made a strong impression on the group already, according to Simpson, with the group committing to his game plan almost instantly.
“The best thing about ‘Beatts’ is he won't ask anything of anyone without doing it himself,” Simpson said.
“His big thing is just buy in, buy in or f*** off, pretty much. He’s recruited (well), during pre-season we had five or six, now look at us, it’s unbelievable.”
While still young, Simpson brings a wealth of experience back to Echuca United after being involved in the Murray Bombers set-up during their recent golden era, and he is looking to implement some of that knowledge at the Eagles.
“I’ll help the boys where I can, but on the field, it’s just lead by example,” he said of his role this season.
“Do the small things, get around the younger boys and hopefully create a bit of a family situation where we can all go to social functions together and we’re a pretty tight group.”
While it is hard to put any expectation on things given the raft of changes the group has experienced in the off season, Simpson said the side is wanting to change its reputation within the league.
“I think our goal is just to be known as a competitive bunch of boys,” he said.
“We could say we want to be a finals contender and stuff like that, which we are a fair chance, but our main thing is just to be a competitive group, and to be known as a tough bunch of boys that doesn’t give up.”
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