Sam Powell-Pepper receives three-game ban from AFL for ‘inappropriate behaviour’

AFTER 16 days of investigations, Port Adelaide midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper’s case on his off-field behaviour at an Adelaide nightclub ended with a three-game ban from the AFL.

• Three-week ban for wild night out in season is probably about right
• Powell-Pepper case is far from closed

BANNED Port Adelaide midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper is back in action in the SANFL on Wednesday after the AFL closed its case on his off-field behaviour.

The AFL has banned the 20-year-old midfielder from the national league for three games after investigating his behaviour at an Adelaide nightclub on Sunday, April 8.

BAD BOY: AFL, POWER AT ODDS OVER INVESTIGATION

There is precedent of an AFL player being fielded in another competition while serving a ban from the league’s integrity unit - Richmond premiership defender Nathan Broad this year.

Banned late last year for three games for circulating a photograph of a topless woman with his premiership medal after the AFL grand final, Broad played in the AFL’s pre-season series in March and in the VFL.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas described the 16-day Powell-Pepper saga as “a difficult investigation for all involved.”

“We acknowledge that it has taken longer to reach a conclusion than preferred and both Sam and the club acknowledge Sam’s behavior was inappropriate and accept the penalty,” he said.

“However, there were many elements to this incident that needed to be fully understood before a decision could be fairly reached.

“We are looking forward to discussing these issues in some detail at tomorrow’s media conference.

“Of most importance to Sam, the AFLPA 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.

“We look forward to providing an accurate assessment of the incident tomorrow.”

Port Adelaide’s earlier statement on Wednesday says: “Port Adelaide acknowledges the conclusion to the AFL integrity department’s investigation into an incident involving Sam Powell-Pepper at an Adelaide bar on April 8.

“The AFL has handed Powell-Pepper a three AFL game sanction, a sanction which Powell-Pepper has accepted.

“Powell-Pepper’s sanction includes the AFL games he missed in Rounds 4 and 5 while the investigation was ongoing, and this weekend’s Round 6 game against North Melbourne.

“The AFL has deemed Powell-Pepper can play SANFL, effective immediately.

“As a result, Powell-Pepper will play for Port Adelaide in today’s SANFL Anzac Day game against Sturt.

“Powell-Pepper will then be available for selection for Port Adelaide’s AFL Round 7 game against West Coast.”

Sam Powell-Pepper at Port Adelaide training. Picture: Sarah Reed

Powell-Pepper has not played AFL - or any competitive football - since he was stood down by his teammates for breaching team rules of breaking a 2am curfew and excessive drinking in public after the Power’s home win against Brisbane on April 7.

The AFL’s ban will include the games Powell-Pepper has missed against Essendon and Geelong in the past fortnight.

Port Adelaide is still standing by its view the evidence gathered from an Adelaide nightclub does not support the guilty finding against the West Australian.

The Power intends to continue defending Powell-Pepper with legal challenges on how the issue was presented on Adelaide television.

The SANFL revealed on Wednesday it was not consulted by the AFL or Port Adelaide on the decision to play Powell-Pepper in the Magpies team at Unley Oval.

The league acknowledged Powell-Pepper was still eligible to play under the AFL-SANFL interchange agreement.

“When a player breaches the laws of the game because of on-field incident, the match penalty for the player applies to all competitions,” the SANFL declared in a statement. “However, matters of disciplinary sanction, such as inappropriate off-field behaviour, are not subject to the same requirement.

“Powell-Pepper is therefore available for selection and will play in the grand final re-match.

“(The) SANFL was not consulted by the AFL and was informed of this outcome on Wednesday. As a consequence of these circumstances, the SANFL will be reviewing its regulations with regards to the application of disciplinary sanction for AFL-listed players and how that impacts on its State league competition.”