AFL 2024: Jy Simpkin ruled out of round 1 as Saint Jimmy Webster cops seven-game ban

Saint Jimmy Webster will miss a large chunk of the AFL season after the AFL tribunal delivered their verdict on his bump on Kangaroo Jy Simpkin.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 03: Jimmy Webster of the Saints looks on at the quarter time break during the 2024 AFL AAMI Community Series match between the St Kilda Saints and North Melbourne Kangaroos at RSEA Park on March 03, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster has been suspended for seven games for his high bump on North Melbourne’s Jy Simpkin in what was described by the tribunal as “a classic case of avoidable head-high contact”.

The Kangaroos’ co-captain was left concussed after the horror high-bump in Sunday’s pre-season clash.

Counsel for the AFL Andrew Woods told the tribunal on Tuesday evening it was pushing for an eight-match ban for Webster for the bump.

The AFL was particularly incensed by the manner in which Webster gathered momentum in his final steps then leapt off the ground to strike Simpkin, concussing him for the third time since round 12 last year.

Just before the hearing, the Kangaroos announced that Simpkin would not play in Round 1 against GWS and because of his concussion history the club would take a “conservative approach” with their co-captain.

Speaking via a videolink, Webster said the bump was “something I’m not proud of” and he had “no excuse” for why he jumped off the ground to bump Simpkin.

Jimmy Webster has been banned for seven matches. Pic: Michael Klein

“I’ve let a lot of people down,” he said.

“To be honest I don’t have an excuse for why I jumped off the ground, I felt like I could kind of protect myself a little bit.

“It was instinctive, but no excuses, I just got it wrong in that split second and I am going to pay for it.”

Mr Woods said despite the contrition shown by Webster, eight matches was an appropriate sanction and more games could have been suitable if the Saints defender didn’t show remorse for the incident.

“There was certainly enough time to avoid, either avoid or temper any contact that was made with Simpkin,” he said.

Webster said he hadn’t watched the footage until the hearing.

“To be honest I have felt a bit sick about it,” he said.

He also said criticism his family had copped about it hurt.

“I’m happy to cop the backlash, but I’ve got a 16-month old and a wife at home. For them to cop it on social media, it’s obviously pretty s##t,” he said.

Adrian Anderson, acting for Webster, said eight matches was “excessive and disproportionate in the circumstances” and while he didn’t give a number it should be he said it was comparable to the incident that resulted in Port Adelaide’s Sam Powell-Pepper copping a four-game ban last week.

Jy Simpkin will miss round 1. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“What is proposed is a massive, sudden shift in sanction which is out of whack with the evolution over time,” he said.

Mr Anderson said an eight week suspension was reserved for intentional incidents such as Andrew Gaff’s “violent and deliberate act” in 2018 that “smashed” Andrew Brayshaw’s jaw.

Mr Woods argued that Gaff and other players in the past such as Barry Hall and Dean Solomon would have gotten far longer bans in 2024 than they would have with their respective historical incidents.

Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson said of the AFL’s argument “no other way you skin it, it comes down to the AFL saying this is twice as bad” as Powell-Pepper’s bump.

After deliberation, the tribunal hit Webster with a huge seven-match ban with Mr Gleeson saying it was a “classic case of avoidable head-high contact” and rejecting the similarities with Powell-Pepper’s incident.

“The Powell-Pepper rough conduct was serious - this was worse, considerably worse,” he said.

Webster was extremely remorseful.

After the verdict was handed down, the Saints and Webster both accepted the findings.

“As we expressed prior to the hearing, we knew the penalty for this behaviour would be significant, as it should be,” executive general manager of football David Misson said.

“Jimmy’s actions were clearly inappropriate and are not reflective of the way we want to play, nor the modern game as a whole.”

Webster again apologised to Simpkin.

“I wish to reiterate my remorse and again apologise to Jy for my actions,” he said.

“I will take this time on the sidelines to reflect on my actions and work hard to keep it out of my game.”

ROOS SKIPPER RULED OUT AFTER VICIOUS HIT

North Melbourne will be without its co-captain heading into round 1, with the Kangaroos ruling Jy Simpkin out of the start of the season.

Simpkin suffered his third concussion in less than 12 months during Sunday’s clash against St Kilda, when he was on the receiving end of a late bump from defender Jimmy Webster.

While Webster will front the tribunal on Tuesday night and is expected to be handed a lengthy and unprecedented ban for the rough conduct charge, Simpkin will miss North Melbourne’s clash against the Giants.

“Jy’s health and wellbeing is our number one priority,” general manager of football Todd Viney said.

“Given Jy’s concussion history, our medical team will take a conservative approach to his management and recovery as per the AFL’s Concussion Protocols.

“Jy came into the club today, he’s doing well and is in good spirits but his official return-to-play timeline is unclear at this point as it depends on his progress.”