MYRTLEFORD has emerged with the prized signature of recently retired Greater Western Sydney ruckman Dawson Simpson in a deal which has been three years in the making.
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The club confirmed the signing on Tuesday with Simpson to be an assistant coach in his first season before teaming up with current coach Jake Sharp as co-coaches in the second at McNamara Reserve.
He will either be co-coaching or coaching the club on his own in 2022.
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Myrtleford president Ian Wales confirmed Simpson had been in the club's sights for three years with previous attempts to woo him to the club thwarted by contract extensions offered by GWS.
"We have not only recruited a player who we believe will make a big impact in the Ovens and Murray, but most importantly we've been able to attract a quality person," Wales said.
"His honesty has been clear to see from the first time we sat down with him to talk about playing for us."
Simpson was initially drafted to Geelong via Barnawartha and the Murray Bushrangers in 2007 and last Sunday played his 48th match in the GWS' loss to the Western Bulldogs.
He could still reach his 50-match milestone with the one home and away match remaining in the AFL and GWS guaranteed of at least one finals appearance.
Simpson is close mates with Nathan Laracy, who plays at Myrtleford after previously playing for Werribee in the VFL.
"When you've got Nathan and his father Frank recommending him as a quality person and someone we should go after, you can't go wrong," Wales said.
Simpson, his wife Allira and family are expected to relocate to the Ovens Valley soon after the AFL season has finished.
The signing is a massive boost to the Saints remaining an onfield force next season which coincides with the 50-year anniversary of the club's one and only flag in the O and M.
The club has surged up the ladder in 2019 after finishing eighth last year with only four wins.
Myrtleford is guaranteed playing finals, but a double chance finish slipped through its grasp with an eight-point loss last Saturday.
