North Melbourne star Harry Sheezel admits captain Jy Simpkin has been frustrated over his limited midfield minutes for “the last year or so” and is now “exploring his options” for 2026 and beyond.

Simpkin is the latest club captain to have his name thrown into trade speculation, following the confirmed exit of Oscar Allen from West Coast, and the turmoil at Essendon with skipper Zach Merrett.

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It was reported Simpkin was unhappy with the midfield minutes he was getting at the Roos – a place where he won back-to-back Syd Barker Medals for the club’s best and fairest as a midfielder.

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Speaking on SEN Radio on Friday, Sheezel said Simpkin was in a “tough situation” given he’s been “open” with the club about his preferred position.

“Yeah, I think that’s definitely true (the midfield minutes claims), and Jy is open in saying that,” Sheezel said.

“He is an unbelievable player and leader for our club, and he feels like off the back of winning a couple of best and fairests in the midfield, he hasn’t got that opportunity as much as he would have liked.

Teammates Harry Sheezel and Jy Simpkin.Source: Getty Images

“I think it’s something that the club and him need to work through in the future, because he’s such a good player for us but he can play so many roles and he’s so versatile. He is such a good leader and a selfless leader that he’s kind of copped that a few times.

“He’s definitely expressed his frustrations, but he is an incredible player for us no matter where he plays and I have no doubt he’ll continue to be.”

While hopeful his captain, who is contracted until the end of 2029, would remain at Arden Street, Sheezel wasn’t sure what would unfold.

“It’s obviously a tough situation with the club. Like, Jy has expressed his frustration I think continuously for a little bit over the last year or so and the club have been really open with that in and speaking to him and really trying to work through it together,” he said.

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“I think they’re both on really good terms – he’s on really good terms with me personally and a lot of the players.

“I don’t think it’s quite what is being reported. Jy hasn’t requested a trade or anything, he’s just exploring his options, seeing if there’s anything out there but him and the club are still staying in contact. I think there’s still a lot to play out, but I don’t think it’s the disaster being reported.

“I don’t know if I can 100 per cent say if he will stay or go, but I personally would love him to stay.

“I think the club 100 per cent want him to stay and want to work through his frustrations with him.

“This is a bit hard personally knowing him so well and being so close with him, it’d be hard seeing him playing for another team, or I think even for him it’d be hard for himself playing for another team.”

Simpkin’s push to return to the midfield had left AFL great Garry Lyon frustrated earlier this week, as the trade speculation ramps up.

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“Enough is enough on this one,” Lyon told AFL 360.

“Jy is the captain of the football club. I don’t mind him going in saying ‘listen this is what I want to do’, but there’s an element of selflessness about this that when you take on the captaincy and leadership of your football club – and you do it with your eyes wide open, particularly when you sign a contract until the end of 2029.

“Where has this culture come from?

“We now go ‘give me the long-term contract’ and the club says ‘alright here, but know that this is you until 2029’ – don’t turn around and say: ‘I’m not playing enough time in the middle, I want out.’

“No, it’s: ‘I’m not playing enough time in the middle, what do I need to do to get back in? Where else can I help the football club? I signed the long-term contract, I’m the captain of the footy club, I’m going to be here until 2029 – where can I be of best value?’”

Jy Simpkin and Harry Sheezel lead the Roos off the field.Source: Getty Images

Journalist Jon Ralph believes North Melbourne have made their stance clear to Simpkin, reporting the Roos are “adamant he has a huge future at the club but not as an inside midfielder”.

“The club has told Simpkin they believe he can be one of the game’s best wingmen after playing in that role in the final two games of the season,” he wrote.

“The Roos captain will explore trade options at rival clubs in coming weeks but it would take something exceptional in return for North Melbourne to consider trading him.”