North Melbourne legend David King has blasted St Kilda's Jimmy Webster after the defender laid a massive, late hit on Kangaroos star Jye Simpkin on Sunday.
Webster left the ground and hip-and-shouldered Simpkin after he kicked the ball on the boundary line at RSEA Park during the first quarter of the sides' practice match.
Simpkin lay motionless on the ground as he was tended to by club medical staff.
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A scuffle broke out between players as Roos players defended their teammate.
After some time on the turf, the 25-year-old was able to get up and walk off unassisted, but extremely dazed, before being immediately ruled out of the rest of the match.
Simpkin has suffered three concussions over the past nine months, with fears now concerning his future in the game.
King took to X to express his anger, suggesting Webster should receive a lengthy ban.
"Ten weeks. Simple as that," he said.
"I just hope Jye Simpkin is ok.
"Just so unnecessary. I hope we aren't still having this conversation in '24."
https://twitter.com/davidking34/status/1764141678699610114
It comes just weeks after Melbourne premiership midfielder Angus Brayshaw was forced to medically retire from the game due to the ongoing effects of concussion.
Brayshaw's retirement follows the AFL making a rule change in 2024 in response to Collingwood premiership player Brayden Maynard's controversial bump on Brayshaw in the 2023 qualifying final.
If a player decides to smother and ends up contacting a player high, the league has confirmed it will suspend players, irrespective of their intention during the incident.
Last week, Port Adelaide's Sam Powell-Pepper was slapped with a four week ban for his hit on Adelaide's Mark Keane during their practice match.
Simpkin emerged from the rooms a short time later in his club tracksuit in good spirits.
St Kilda went on to win the practice match by 19 points.
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