North Melbourne co-captain is satisfied to be playing a new role outside of the club's first-string midfield ensemble if it's what's best for the Kangaroos.
The Roos skipper has shifted to a more diluted role that has him spending more time at half-forward as coach Alastair Clarkson looks to give the likes of Luke Davies-Uniacke, George Wardlaw, Tom Powell, Will Phillips and Harry Sheezel more time in the middle.
Simpkins has struggled for form in 2024 and has become open to a new role to aid the club's cause, with the 26-year-old in ongoing conversations with Clarkson on what shape the Kangaroos will take each week.
Taking on a "team-first" approach, Simpkin is ready to step away from his role as a midfielder if it means getting North Melbourne closer to their first win of the year.
"Me and Clarko talk very closely each week about the balance of finding the midfield and half-forward role," Simpkin said.
"At the moment, we're just trying to find that balance for the team and what works best. I'll do whatever I have to do for the team. If that's been up forward, then that's where I'll be, and if it's in the midfield then that's where I'll be also.
"I'm a team-first player and the captain of this football team. I want what's best for the team. So if [Clarko] thinks that's me being up forward, then that's where it is."
A quad concern saw Simpkin miss last week's trip to Darwin to face the Gold Coast Suns, with the Roos ball-winner not risked with the trip to the Northern Territory.
Wanting to return to the best form of his career, Simpkin said there are a number of senior players who are playing below the required standard this season.
Speaking on Monday, the former first-round selection was honest about his form and is hopeful of returning to Clarkson's side this week.
"I just had a bit of a tight quad, and travelling up to Darwin with the conditions up there it wasn't worth the risk of going and potentially making it worse," Simpkin added.
"So if I get a good week of training this week then things should possibly be right to go for Sunday.
"I'm doing okay. It's been a frustrating year, personally as well. My form hasn't been the greatest, but we're all working together as a team as individuals. There's not many of us that are actually in great form at the moment.
"We've had a lot of good young guys and seen a lot of positives. Colby McKercher coming in, Georgie Wardlaw again, and Charlie Comben is starting to show some really good signs. We'll continue to work to get better."
As a whole, the Kangaroos are on a trajectory that could see them endure a worse season than last year's three-win campaign.
Currently without a win after nine matches, the Roos' fight for a breakthrough victory won't come any easier this weekend against an in-form Essendon outfit.
Simpkin believes the tide will soon turn, stressing the need for the club's young group to remain "united".
"It's not going the way we planned, but the strength of the group is the united piece. We're all sticking together. Coaches, players, we're all on the same page. We know where we want to get to," the Roos skipper said.
"Each week we're finding different things out about ourselves. We've got to keep fixing little cogs in our gameplan that'll suit us. It'll come. We're working our backsides off every single day. As I said, we're such a united group and we're all in it together.
"It will come, it's just going to take time."
North Melbourne face rivals Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Sunday at 1:10pm (AEST).
