Port Adelaide president David Koch ignores his Seven connection to support Sam Powell-Pepper

PORT Adelaide president David Koch says making a stand for his football club and defending his players comes before his professional duties at Channel Seven.

Port Adelaide president David Koch says making a stand for his football club comes before his job at Channel Seven. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz Kochie's big AFL serve

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PORT Adelaide president David Koch says his belief in doing “what is right” for Power midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper comes before his employment with Channel Seven.

Koch told The Advertiser today (Thursday) his responsibilities as the Port Adelaide Football Club leader and his personal values override his professional duties with Channel Seven as host of the national Sunrise breakfast program.

“I’m standing up for the Port Adelaide Football Club — and Sam Powell-Pepper,” Koch told The Advertiser.

“I firmly believe in my position to defend the club and one of its players in a very delicate matter.”

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley with president David Koch in Shanghai last year.

Port Adelaide has taken issue with Adelaide Channel Seven’s reporting of Sam Powell-Pepper’s actions at an Adelaide nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning on April 8, hours after playing for the Power in a five-point win against Brisbane at Adelaide Oval.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas declared in a tense 30-minute press conference at Alberton Oval that his club was “reserving its rights” to take action to defend Powell-Pepper’s reputation that he claims was damaged by Seven News alleging he had sexually assaulted a 20-year-old university student at the Mr Kim’s nightclub on April 8.

Koch declared his “personal values” to defend his club and Powell-Pepper come first and foremost in this saga.

“My professional duties with Sunrise do not forbid me from standing up for the Port Adelaide Football Club,” Koch said. “I have a strong value set that is paramount here.”

Koch distanced himself from a “statement” made in his name on a Melbourne radio station on Thursday morning when he was quoted in being highly critical of the AFL’s investigation of Powell-Pepper in the 16-day saga.

Sam Powell-Pepper trains at Alberton Oval this week. Picture: Sarah Reed

Koch told The Advertiser: “That (statement) missed my intentions, but not the subtlety of my feelings.”

Thomas has confirmed Koch’s call for a review of how the integrity unit handled that investigation under the league’s new respect and responsibility code.

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