If there’s one thing you need as an AFL player, it’s resilience and it’s an attribute Jy Simpkin already has in spades.

After suffering a broken leg playing at Scotch College in 2016, the crafty small forward defied the odds to make his AFL debut in Round 1.

“I’ve played at the highest level possible and achieved my dream of playing AFL,” Simpkin told NMFC.com.au.

“I’m loving playing footy again, from not playing at all last year. Now I’m just enjoying being out there with 22 of my best mates.”

But just as he was getting into the swing of things, he was cut down again – this time by a shoulder injury in the game against the Swans in Round 8.

He missed the next six weeks, but showed a level of maturity well beyond his age and was able to turn the injury into a positive and come back better and stronger.

“Nobody likes getting injured and having a couple months out, but in a way it was good to refresh my body and get on top of a couple little things like my knee and few other things that were hanging around,” Simpkin said.

“It was a blessing in disguise to refresh and get ready for the second half of the year.”

Simpkin has now played 13 career games and relished his time alongside the likes of Jack Ziebell, Robbie Tarrant and Jarrad Waite.

The number 12 draft pick also managed to develop a handy highlight reel with his x-factor and ability to side-step opponents.

While sneaking the odd goal is satisfying, ultimately the 19-year-old wants to play further up the ground.

“Just before I did my shoulder I was about to do some more midfield work up on the wing,” he said.

“This year I missed out on having a go up the ground.  Hopefully I can work on that through pre-season and get up the ground next year.

“It’d be nice to have an uninterrupted pre-season, and hopefully I can get stronger and faster and go more into the midfield.”

His performance against Brisbane at the GABBA in Round 23 showed signs of what’s to come, with the small forward finishing with 17 disposals and a classy goal that perhaps should have been nominated for Goal of the Year.

“Nobody wanted to finish on the bottom of the ladder so everyone had a red-hot crack, and it felt good out there.  All the boys were gelling well.”