Essendon have announced former Hawthorn premiership player Jonathan Simpkin as their latest top-up player for the 2016 AFL season.
The 28-year-old joins former Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley and delisted Geelong triple-premiership star James Kelly as recent Bombers signings.
Simpkin, who played in the Hawks' 2013 flag, is the embattled club's latest acquisition following the suspension of 12 of their players over the club's supplements saga.
The Bombers lost onballers Dyson Heppell, Jobe Watson, Travis Colyer and Brent Stanton for the season due to the bans.
Essendon football manager Rob Kerr said Simpkin will add some much needed experience to the midfield.
"Jonathan still has the hunger to perform at the highest level, he brings premiership experience and will provide us with depth through the midfield," Kerr said on Wednesday.
"Off the field we identified Jonathan as a person who aligned well with our team vision and culture, and he's a player who we feel can also help develop our young playing list this season."
Simpkin was drafted as a mature-age recruit in the 2011 rookie draft and played 37 senior games with Geelong and Hawthorn over four seasons.
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