The Powell-Pepper case is far from closed with side issues to be resolved from AFL, SANFL and the courts

PORT Adelaide midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper has his punishment from his off-field behaviour, but the 16-day saga is far from finished.

• Powell-Pepper banned from AFL for three games
• Three-week ban for wild night out in season is probably about right

AFTER 16 days of the Sam Powell-Pepper saga, there is a verdict but not an end to the case.

Port Adelaide is on record that it will defend Powell-Pepper’s reputation that it considers inappropriately damaged by television news reports that brought the nightclub incident into the public domain on April 9.

Club chief executive Keith Thomas’ statement puts one network on notice: “Of most importance to Sam, the AFL Players’ Association and the Port Adelaide Football Club, was the AFL’s finding that there was no evidence or suggestion of sexual or indecent assault, as has been speculated by some media outlets throughout the investigation.”

The SANFL is on record that it needs to review - with the Crows and Power - the AFL-SANFL interchange agreement that allowed Powell-Pepper to play in the State league while banned by the national league.

CASE CLOSED. Port Adelaide midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper, left, is clear to play in the AFL again after completing a three-game ban by missing the clash with North Melbourne on Saturday. Picture: Sarah Reed

Unlike tribunal bans - even those in the SANFL - that automatically sideline an AFL-listed player from all affiliated football competitions, the same does not apply with off-field penalties.

SANFL rules demanded Powell-Pepper take the field at Unley Oval. He was fit, he was eligible for selection - and the current AFL-SANFL agreement compelled Port Adelaide to put the 20-year-old West Australian in a Magpies jumper.

The AFL will find Port Adelaide president David Koch is keen to review the processes of the 15-person integrity unit at AFL House. In question is just how far this all-powerful investigations team went to review all the available evidence.

There also is a strong feeling at Alberton that Powell-Pepper was railroaded into accepting a three-game AFL ban - that ends this weekend - to suit another agenda. The concept of the AFL being a meaningful campaigner for respect towards women did take an embarrassing hit last year as two league executives were compelled to “resign” for inappropriate extramarital affairs with female staffers at AFL House.

And there is still Powell-Pepper to speak after maintaining public silence while being judged by people watching the vision of him stumbling across Hindley Street at 4am, drunk and disorderly.

There is a significant difference in being known as an AFL party boy - and as a sex offender, a point that is to made elsewhere.

The file is closed at AFL House, but the case has sequel moments.

There will be dismay - if not disappointment, as expressed by Thomas - that it took 16 days to investigate this incident and to deliver a three-game sentence.

But as Koch did say during the saga: “The allegations that have been made are extremely serious ... there’s got to be justice for all parties involved.”

And finding justice should not be measured against the number of AFL games denied to Sam Powell-Pepper. There are many others in the “real world” who wait much longer than 16 days to have their cases investigated by police and resolved in courts.

Why this case never went to SA Police will always concern some. But it might still play out in a courtroom as Port Adelaide seeks to protect Powell-Pepper’s reputation.

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