Former Hawthorn premiership player Jonathan Simpkin has reportedly agreed to join Essendon as a top-up player.
Simpkin, 28, has emerged as the next piece in the Bombers' AFL recruiting puzzle following the suspension of 12 of their players over the club's supplements saga, including midfielders Dyson Heppell, Jobe Watson, Travis Colyer and Brent Stanton.
The Bombers are set to make a formal announcement on Simpkin, who played in the Hawks' 2013 flag and was delisted at the end of last season, on Thursday, according to media reports.
The addition of Simpkin comes after former Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley and Geelong premiership star James Kelly were added to Essendon's list.
Essendon are also in talks with ruckman Mark Jamar, who joined the Bombers as a part-time ruck coach after being delisted by Melbourne at the end of last season, about a playing role.
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"We're conscious that unfortunately Tom Bellchambers is one of the players who received that suspension so that leaves us a little skinny in terms of rucks," Essendon football manager Rob Kerr told SEN.
"We're going to have to provide a bit of back up for Matty Leuenberger and Shaun McKernan.
"We're chatting to Mark about whether he might be able to join us."
Essendon can sign top-up players up until March 15 - less than two weeks before their round-one opening match against GWS.
