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Welcome back to the big time, Jimmy Webster. The St Kilda defender returned to the side after serving a seven-week suspension for a sickening hit on North Melbourne's Jy Simpkin in a pre season match on the eve of the 2024 season. Webster jumped off the ground and shouldered Simpkin after he kicked the ball on the boundary line at RSEA Park in the game back in early March. READ MORE: $4.5m 'bidding frenzy' to pour fuel on bitter NRL rivalry READ MORE: Sydney club shattered by mid-match death in England READ MORE: 'Fitness' probed as horror moment sums up sorry Souths At the time, Simpkin lay motionless on the ground as he was tended to by club medical staff. Simpkin spent the first round of the 2024 season on the sidelines battling through concussion symptoms from the bump. When Webster fronted the Tribunal, AFL Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson said the bump was "extremely careless" and Simpkin was in a "relatively defenceless" position. Now, the 30-year-old Saint has been welcomed back into the competition, forced to face up against Simpkin and his very angry Roos. Webster received boos from the North Melbourne crowd early in the first term. Halfway through the first quarter, Webster had the ball in St Kilda's defensive 50 and copped a chorus of boos. His next move got North Melbourne fans even more excited. Webster botched the kick and gave North Melbourne's Tom Powell a shot on goal. He then received Bronx cheers from the crowd, while Simpkin made his way over to Webster to really rub it in. The Saints kicked away early in the second term.