Webster leapt off the ground and collected Simpkin's head with a hip-and-shoulder bump during the first quarter of the clash at RSEA Park on Sunday.
Simpkin kicked the ball into North's forward line a split-second before Webster cannoned into him.
Kangaroos players rushed to remonstrate with Webster and a melee spilled over the boundary line into the fence.
Simpkin lay dazed on the ground and was attended to by medical staff before being helped off the field several minutes later.
He was quickly ruled out of action for the rest of the match, though North Melbourne are yet to confirm whether he has concussion.
The skipper has been ruled out for the rest of the match, following this high hit.— North Melbourne FC (@NMFCOfficial) #Kangas pic.twitter.com/dmAaZXAzJSMarch 3, 2024
The incident comes less than a week after Port Adelaide forward Sam Powell-Pepper was handed a four-match ban his high bump on Adelaide's Mark Keane.
Collingwood great Nathan Buckley declared Webster's bump "at least twice as bad" as Powell-Pepper's and pondered whether it would result in a much larger suspension.
"For mine this is one of the issues of hedging SPP's action at 4 weeks," Buckley posted on X, formerly Twitter.
For mine this is one of the issues of hedging SPP's action at 4 weeks. Webster action was at least twice as bad in my view. Does that mean it's an 8 week penalty?— Nathan Buckley (@ncb_cfc) March 3, 2024
"Webster action was at least twice as bad in my view. Does that mean it's an 8 week penalty?"
Buckley added: "For clarity I think SPP in 2/3wk range and Webster 5/6wks.
"It's a fast, tough game to play, players make mistakes and errors of judgement. An 8 week penalty is massive."
Powell-Pepper was sent straight to the tribunal for his bump, which was deemed severe impact by the match review officer.
Webster will also likely be sent straight to the tribunal, where he could receive an even larger penalty, given he jumped off the ground and made late contact with Simpkin.
If Simpkin does have concussion, he could still play in round one under the minimum 12-day concussion protocol.
North Melbourne face GWS on March 16.
19°C