As Dawson Simpson’s AFL career comes to a close, so does his running of the GIANTS’ “Fit Club” – weekly personal training sessions for the club’s staff held in the GIANTS’ gym.

But never fear, GIANTS defenders Matt Buntine and Adam Kennedy are set to take over the responsibility of keeping the club’s staff in top shape with the future of Fit Club secured after Buntine signed a new two-year contract extension this week.

“It’s a two for one deal that,” Buntine said.

“It was a great time obviously to recommit to the club, during such an exciting time of the year.

“I’ve been here as one of the originals, it’s great that the club see a future in me with football and I obviously love the club to bits.

“It’s sad to see ‘Big Daws’ go but the big fella has handed over the reins for fit club for the next little while.”

Buntine has played 59 games for the GIANTS since debuting in round eight, 2012 and has played nine games in 2019. 

While the GIANTS are busy preparing for the 2019 Toyota AFL Grand Final against Richmond on Saturday, Buntine has taken a moment to reflect on the journey it’s taken to get to this point.

“It’s been a long journey from the start for us, for the eight years that we’ve been there,” he said.

“It’s just great that after the last couple of years of not quite making it we’re in the big dance finally but we also want to go all the way this year.

“It’s a really big occasion for the club, it feels like a long time ago that we were at Blacktown in de-mountables.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity this weekend.” 

The 25-year-old is the latest in a long list of re-signings for the GIANTS, led by vice-captains Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly, and rising stars Sam Taylor, Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper and Connor Idun.