It is Ben McKay’s first year in the leadership group with the key defender standing out to teammates as one of the big improvers in the pre-season. He is out of contract at the end of this season and shapes as a key signing for the club in 2023.
Aidan Corr and Kayne Turner are no longer part of the leadership group.
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Simpkin has won the Kangaroos’ past two best and fairests while McDonald won the award for the first time in 2020. Both players have been consistent performers during a tough period for the club and demonstrated an ability to handle the responsibilities of performing and being captain.
McDonald was a father-son selection and has played 159 games. He turns 28 next month and has been a Kangaroo for life. His father Donald McDonald played 155 games for the club before working in administration.
Simpkin,a Yorta Yorta man,was also a first-round draft pick and stepped up in the midfield when Rhyce Shaw took over as coach to become a high-quality performer in the past three seasons. He will turn 25 in March.