SAINTS DEFENDER Tom Simpkin says his love of footy stems from the countless hours he spent as a young boy playing games in the backyard with his brothers.

The 21-year-old grew up with three brothers in the country town of Colac, in western Victoria.

His older brother Jonathan is three years his senior and debuted for the Geelong Cats earlier this year.

Simpkin says he is looking forward to Round 21 when the Saints take on the Cats at Etihad Stadium.