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A “really embarrassed” Jimmy Webster has issued an apology upon accepting his seven-game suspension for concussing North Melbourne co-captain Jy Simpkin.
However, the maligned Saint has received surprise sympathies from a pair of rival stars.
Webster was banned for more than a quarter of the season by the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday, following a brutal bump that left Simpkin dazed last Sunday. As a result, the Roos midfielder was placed in the AFL’s concussion protocols and has since been ruled out of North’s Round 1 contest with GWS.
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After a lengthy hearing the 30-year-old learned his fate, proceeding to issue an apology to Simpkin, his family and North Melbourne.
“Firstly, to Jy and Jy’s family, I’m really sorry about what happened on the weekend,” said Webster.
“It’s something I’m really embarrassed about, it’s not what I stand for as a person or a player, so I’m really sorry and hope you recover OK and (are) back out there playing soon.
“To the North Melbourne Football Club and the footy people, I’m sorry about my actions on Sunday, it’s not something I’m proud of and this is something we really want to stamp out of our game.
“I’m going to miss a fair chunk of footy this year, seven weeks on the sideline and rightfully so — it’s something I’m not proud of and I just hope Jy’s doing OK.”
7 match ban confirmed for Jimmy Webster | 01:59
GWS captain Toby Greene, who’s had his own share of run-ins with the AFL law, sympathised with Webster’s situation amid revelations the St Kilda backman’s wife had been the target of abuse on social media.
“It’s not a comfortable place or something you enjoy, I certainly know social media — that blows up,” Greene told AFL 360 on Tuesday.
“For me, (my worry) was for my mum and my girlfriend. My mum was a school teacher, so she’s got kids coming up to her at school, (so) I really feel bad in that situation.
“It’s not comfortable and I do feel sorry for him.”
Added Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps: “(That bump is) something we don’t want to see in the game, but that’s why I feel for him because as soon as he’s done it he’s like ‘I shouldn’t have done it’.”
Webster is eligible to return to AFL action in Round 8 against North Melbourne.
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