FORMER Hawk Jonathan Simpkin will continue his AFL career after signing on as an Essendon top-up player for 2016.

The 28-year-old midfielder has agreed to follow ex-Dockers tagger Ryan Crowley and former Geelong star James Kelly to Tullamarine.

Simpkin, who played in the Hawks' 2013 premiership side, was delisted by the Hawks at the end of last season.

He managed 33 games in brown and gold after being recruited as a delisted free agent after four games for Geelong the previous year.

He started his career at the elite level back in 2006 when he was rookie-listed by the Sydney Swans.

Simpkin played all but one of his matches for the Hawks during the 2013 and '14 seasons, with the prolific ball-winner struggling to get a look-in last season despite outstanding form at Box Hill – where he won the best and fairest.

He had signed on to play with Eastern Football League club Balwyn for 2016.

The Bombers, who can sign up to 10 top-up players for 2016, have until March 15 to finalise their list for the upcoming season.