The game couldn’t have started any better for everyone in the hoops when it was Sam Simpson who opened his side’s account a tick under three minutes into the opening term.
It was the biggest crowed GMHBA Stadium had seen since 2019, and it sounded as if every single one of them got out of their seats when fan favourite Simpson kicked the first of the game.
It had been 603 days since the 2021 Qualifying Final against Port Adelaide when he played his last AFL game, and the fans, and his teammates were thrilled to see him back, high socks and all.
“He's a great person, a great teammate and there's something about Sam Simpson that just makes us better," Tom Hawkins told Channel 7 after the game.
“We were better again tonight, I don't know, is he our good luck charm?”
Simpson finished the game with 14 disposals, six marks and five score involvements after coming into the side as a late in for ruckman Jonathon Ceglar. He almost had three but a set shot late drifted right but however he played, Hawkins, and the Cats faithful were clearly thrilled to see him out there.
“He was brilliant. Footy does this, it creates stories and moments and how fitting it was for him to kick us off, it's just wonderful seeing him back on the big stage.”
