The significance of ANZAC Day and its historical relevance to our country has become deeply etched into the mind of West Coast Eagles senior coach Adam Simpson through his connection to the AFL.

The 300-game North Melbourne veteran, a two-time premiership player with the Kangaroos, is entering his second year as senior coach of the Eagles.

When asked to align himself with Camp Gallipoli as an ambassador, Simpson enthusiastically accepted the invitation.

“It is our heritage, our history and our culture,” Simpson said.

“The experiences of those men on the front line at Gallipoli helped to forge the country as we know it today.

“It also has great relevance to our Australian game. I have learned more about the Gallipoli campaign in the last 20 years of involvement as a player and coach in the AFL than I did at school, because the AFL has been a great educator.

“It has been so beneficial to be exposed and educated around our history and the significance of what we all call the ANZAC spirit.

“Those young men who went to war 100 years ago have had a massive impact on the lives and the freedom we all enjoy today.

“It’s an honour to be an ambassador for Camp Gallipoli and I am proud to be a part of it.

“As it turns out, we will be playing Brisbane at the Gabba on the weekend that we remember and commemorate our history, and we will all reflect on what that means to us.”

After a stellar career at North Melbourne, Simpson spent four years as an assistant coach at Hawthorn and one of his enduring memories was a pre-season trek up the Kokoda trail.