Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley believes Jimmy Webster is staring down a suspension in the vicinity of eight weeks as the AFL world debated the Saint’s looming ban for his hit on Jy Simpkin that knocked out the Roos co-captain.
Webster was referred directly to the tribunal for a Tuesday night hearing, where the defender is set to cop a hefty suspension given the crack down on such incidents.
It also comes just a week after Sam Powell-Pepper was hit with a four-match ban for his bump on Mark Keane, with Webster’s act even more reckless, and follows Angus Brayshaw’s sad retirement on the eve of the season due to concussion.
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Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Chief Herald Sun reporter Mark Robinson said he’d push for Webster to receive a seven-week ban, while the program’s co-host, Gerard Whateley, said “I’ll stay with six (weeks), but I feel like it’s going to be higher.”
Later on Fox Footy’s On The Couch, Buckley acknowledged that, given the “change in community standards” around head knocks and concussions over the past year, Webster is facing a “big whack”.
“Kozzy Pickett’s was two weeks (for his bump on Bailey Smith) and that’s nearly 12 months ago. I think the change in community standards we saw with the Powell-Pepper decision – four weeks is a big whack – and he got that for something that might’ve got off 12 months ago,” the former Magpies coach said.
“I think it’s going to be a big whack (for Webster). I reckon eight is about the median it would be.”
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Dual premiership Kangaroo David King has been the most vocal in arguing for a statement to be made against Webster, repeatedly calling for a 10-week ban.
Brisbane Lions champion Jonathan Brown however argued players are now understanding of the repercussions of such behaviour – and that it’d unlikely be altered whether Webster’s ban is “five or 10 weeks” – despite the 30-year old’s “bran fade”.
“Every player in the AFL would be crystal clear that that’s not allowed,” Brown told On The Couch.
“I’m not sure there’s going to be much difference on five or 10 weeks (in terms of) the impact it has on the playing group. Find me a player that thinks that thinks that situation is OK.”
It comes as Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy on 3AW called for the AFL to introduce a red card system for such instances as Webster’s hit on Simpkin, which would see the St Kilda backman immediately sent off the ground.
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Former Melbourne skipper Garry Lyon endorsed Healy’s suggestion, questioning, if the weekend’s incident had’ve been a regular game, why North Melbourne should be disadvantaged.
“I’ve been against it for a long time. But I’ve turned around, when it’s an obvious one like that,” Lyon told On The Couch.
“It doesn’t make any sense that, in this instance, St Kilda – and imagine if it was a final – continue to play with their full complement and North Melbourne are their captain down.
“That’s Gerard’s take on it and I thought it was really interesting.”
Jonathan Brown said if there was to be a red card system, the AFL would also need to introduce some type of video review third umpire.
“I’d only be comfortable with a red-card system under the video review. That would have to try and be a quick decision,” Brown added.
“So for instance, if you say it’s a red card offence, it goes up to the video review officer and he has to make a decision within a couple of minutes.
“That’d be pretty straightforward decision.”
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