St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster could miss close to half the season after a brutal late bump on Jy Simpkin, with one respected analyst deeming it worthy of a 10-week ban.

The first-quarter hit in the pre-season clash between the two sides sparked mass remonstrations after Webster left his feet to lay a flatten Simpkin as he delivered a ball into the forward 50.

While much of the St Kilda defender’s body hit Simpkin in the shoulder, his arm crunched in Simpkin’s face.

The North Melbourne midfielder looked seriously distressed on the ground as his teammates swarmed around Webster but was able to walk back to the bench after being assessed by medical staff.

The AFL has cracked down on high hits and concussions in recent seasons and is likely to take a firm approach with players well aware of the consequences of leaving their feet and making high contact.

David King labelled the hit “so unnecessary” as he called for a 10-week sanction.

“Ten weeks. Simple as that. I just hope Jy Simpkin is ok. Just so unnecessary. I hope we aren’t still having this conversation anymore in ‘24,” he wrote on X.

Former Collingwood champion and coach Nathan Buckley also took to social media to suggest the defender could be starring down the barrel of a huge eight-week suspension, comparing the blow to Port Adelaide midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper’s.

“For mine this is one of the issues of hedging SPP’s action at four weeks. Webster’s action was at least twice as bad, in my view. Does that mean it’s an eight-week penalty?” he wrote.

Powell-Pepper was handed four weeks after causing a sickening collision by bumping Adelaide Crows rival Mark Keane in the head while he was being slung in a tackle from former Eagle Willie Rioli.

The two incidents come just a week after Melbourne premiership player Angus Brayshaw was forced to retire at just 28 due to his history of concussions.