KADE Simpson has experienced more downs than ups over his AFL journey so far, but the wiry midfielder had plenty of reasons to smile this week after signing a contract extension that will keep him at Carlton until the end of 2011.

Part of a team on the rise, the 25-year-old will play his 100th game on Friday and is confident the next 100 can bring a lot more success.

"I'm very happy to stay because I love this club," Simpson said from Visy Park on Thursday.

"It's good now that we're starting to win a few games. It's been a lot more enjoyable than it has been over the last few years."

The prime-time clash against traditional rival Essendon at the MCG provides Simpson with a big stage for the milestone, but he's more focused on the premiership points with the Blues' season finely balanced at six wins and six losses.

"It's going to be a big game for the club. We need to get a win to get ahead of the logjam from fourth down to about 10th," he said.

"Whoever gets the points can put themselves above the other and be a big chance to make the finals.

"Every game's a big game for us from here on in. We need to win another six at least to make the finals.

"There will obviously be a big crowd there and our supporters love beating Essendon. The past couple of years they've had the wood on us and they've played some good footy earlier in the year. We're looking to get one back on them."

Friday night will be the first hit-out for the Blues since they pushed the unbeaten Saints to within nine points before the mid-season break.

Simpson admitted there had been plenty of positives to take from the match, but said he and his teammates were in no way satisfied with the performance.

"I think the boys were pretty flat afterwards because we did have a chance to win," he said.

"You can take a lot out of that, but still we didn't get the four points so we can't be too happy with it.

"If we can take our intensity out of that game into other games we should be able to hold ourselves in good stead."