St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster was banned for seven matches by the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday – the longest suspension handed down in six years.
Webster’s shoulder to the head of Jy Simpkin left the North Melbourne star suffering concussion during a practice match on Sunday.
In a landmark case that puts down a new marker in the AFL’s bid to protect players from concussion, Webster pleaded guilty and threw himself at the mercy of the tribunal.
Jimmy Webster. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
The AFL argued for an eight-game suspension, which St Kilda believed was “excessive and disproportionate in the circumstances”.
The Saints pleaded guilty and Webster said: “I’m really sorry about what happened on Sunday. It’s something I’m not proud of – I’ve left a lot of people down.
“My main concern is for Jy to get back to playing footy and I really hope he’s OK. I understand how bad concussions are and how much we want to see them stamped out of the game.”
Webster was asked why he had jumped off the ground and replied that he didn’t have an excuse.
He added he was “sick about” the incident, which he hadn’t watched until the hearing. But he added he was concerned about how the incident and the fallout was affecting his family.
“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 shit,” he said.
Andrew Woods, for the AFL, described the hit as “at the higher end of carelessness”.
“Intention isn’t alleged but a clear decision was made to leave the ground and tuck the arm in. It’s very significantly careless given his speed and player Simpkin’s momentum,” said Woods.
The Iron Dingo
Roar Rookie
Chanon is defending a guy who pole-axed a vulnerable player in no position to defend himself. Reading isn't just about words "champ" - you also have to understand what they mean.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Rent free
Kai Levuka
Roar Rookie
Mate I call it out when I see it. What’s that about the standard you walk past is the standard you accept? Don’t worry I won’t judge you for not calling out anything. It’s the trolls right? Nothing YOU can do about them right?
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Yeah good luck taking on all those anonymous trolls. It’s a waste of time, emotion and energy. Move along.
Kai Levuka
Roar Rookie
Ah yeah the ‘don’t read it if you don’t like it and therefore don’t have to call it out justification’! Also known as the ‘head in the sand’ or ‘hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil’ justification.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
I think the problem lies with the AFL, isolated incidents is obvious & deserves repercussions. My main issue is the undoubtedly head collisions on all aspects in our game. We cannot diminish our game to a hybrid version it stinks of treason.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Only in it for the money?
dargerovitch
Roar Rookie
You're making stuff up , champ. Nobody is suggesting what you're complaining about. Nobody.
dargerovitch
Roar Rookie
I've said so too , and that the player doing the bumping should have both feet on the ground or very close to it. Leaving the ground should be penalised , not just frowned upon , which is ineffective . Maynard last year didn't only jump , he jumped AT Brayshaw and not the ball. (And I'm neither a C'wwod hater nor supporter.)
dargerovitch
Roar Rookie
Agree apart from the Robert Zimmerman reference. By his own admission he was only in it for the money . A faux radical with a whiny voice.
Laurie
Roar Rookie
RIP Dave Granger
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
#Tromble Yeah.......the clincher was a bit weak...........'curio' perhaps??
Tromble
Roar Rookie
Was a shocking hit and if 7-8 is the new standard then Im OK with that. But we will only see if one of the AFL's poster boys lays the same hit.... Your clincher isnt really a clincher as Webster isnt in the Saints best 22 and even if he was its doubtful he would walk straight into the AFL side after 7 weeks off.
Bretto
Roar Rookie
Leigh Matthews would play about 4 games a year if he was around these days. His sniping has been brushed under the carpet for years. A thug.
RT
Roar Rookie
50-50. I would expect GC to pass Richmond by season’s end though.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Good luck to the Saints. Ross has a good record in his second year.
Tassie.
Roar Rookie
Yes it is Pete, don`t know why i posted that. It`s been a while since i have posted anything. Anyway looking forward to a great footy season this year :stoked:
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
The hip pocket does get hit they don’t get match payments and that hurts a player like Webster who wouldn’t be on that much
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah honestly surprised that they thought it was a good idea at all.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Paddy should have got his 3 weeks but that’s ancient history now :stoked: