THERE'LL be little room for sentiment when Hawthorn’s resident assistant coach Kade Simpson takes his place in the opposition coaches’ box on Thursday night –  but the much-admired former Carlton footballer will doubtless be there at game’s end to cheer his old teammate Sam Docherty off the mighty MCG and into the next phase of his life.

Simpson, a magnificent servant in 342 senior appearances through 18 seasons in the dark navy No.6, was there with Docherty when ‘Doc’ first ran out in 2014 – in the Round 7 match with Collingwood on that same sacred ground, on the night Heath Scotland took to the field for his 215th and final Carlton appearance. 

If anyone is qualified to talk about Docherty and courage in football it’s the warrior who was ‘Simmo’ – and in ‘Doc’ the boy from Emerald has nothing but the utmost respect.

“If you looked up the words ‘resilience’ and ‘courage’ there’d be a photo of Doc - and not just for the stuff he went through because he was brave anyway. He never shirked a contest, he was always humble and he never complained,” Simpson said.

“I was lucky enough to play with him when he played his best footy. He was always a hard worker, he always wanted to learn and he always wanted to get the best out of himself. It’s fair to say he squeezed the rag dry.

“It’s hard not to get caught up in everything he’s been through – three ‘recos’ and a couple of bouts of cancer. It’s a remarkable story and I hope he has a book on the way.”

Simpson said he intended to let the dust settle a little before reaching out to Docherty, more than likely later today – just as he’ll reach out to another old Carlton contemporary Jacob Weitering, whom he’ll see chest the banner for game No.200.

And when asked if he’d settle for Docherty to turn in a best-on-ground performance in a losing Carlton team on Thursday night, the potential party pooper replied with a laugh: “I’d take that”.

“If we weren’t playing each other I’d be a fan at the ground, but as ‘Doc’ would want, we’re competitors,” Simpson said.

“And when the final siren goes I’ll be a fan again to celebrate a wonderful career.”