The first thing Carlton coach Brendon Bolton said to Kade Simpson when he took over three years ago was all the AFL veteran needed to hear.

Simpson says Bolton’s words will help him become only the fifth Carlton player reach 300 games when he runs out against Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday.

“My first conversation I had with Bolts … he said to me: ‘I’m not here to retire you’,” Simpson told Fox Footy’s On The Couch.

“I was already in my 30s when he took over.

“So that was good to hear … it gave me a lot of confidence.

“He asked me for my ideas, he’s been great for me.”

Simpson says Bolton helps him maintain his consistency.

The defender has played less than 20 games in a season only once since 2006 and enjoys huge respect throughout the AFL.

Simpson’s imminent milestone is particularly noteworthy given Carlton’s lack of success throughout his career.

Of the five Carlton 300-game players, he is the only one without a premiership.

Craig Bradley holds the club record of 375, followed by Bruce Doull, John Nicholls and Steve Silvagni.

“I’m a little bit embarrassed, actually – they’re legends of Carlton, but obviously legends of the AFL as well,” Simpson said.

The 34-year-old is on rolling one-year deals and Simpson was asked whether he might be able to challenge Bradley’s club games record.

“The body’s feeling good, but I don’t know if it’s feeling that good,” he said.

Asked about changes in the game, the backman points to the rise of small forwards, especially in Richmond’s premiership team.

“Small forward pressure is probably one of the biggest stats in football at the moment,” he said.

“Trying to keep up with a few of these Richmond smalls … every team seems to have a guy who can bloody run 2.8 (seconds) over 20m in their forward line.

“When you’re over 30 trying to keep up with those guys, it’s not the easiest.”

Simpson is also missing Sam Docherty, who will not play this season because of a knee reconstruction.

“Sam and I had a bit of a connection last year and we knew each other’s game back to front,” Simpson said.

“I have missed him out there, that’s for sure.”