Sam Powell-Pepper banned for four matches for bump on Adelaide defender Mark Keane

Sam Powell-Pepper’s delayed start to 2024 has been confirmed with the AFL tribunal handing down a hefty ban for his bump which left Crow Mark Keane concussed.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 23: Mark Keane of the Crows tackled by Willie Rioli of the Power and Sam Powell-Pepper of the Power causing a concussion during an AFL practice match between Port Adelaide Power and Adelaide Crows at Alberton Oval on February 23, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Sam Powell-Pepper has been hit with a four-match suspension for his bump on Mark Keane despite Port Adelaide’s protests the length of the ban would be “manifestly excessive”.

In a hearing that spanned three-and-a-half hours, the tribunal found Powell-Pepper was “very careless” and did not take any steps to avoid the contact that occurred when he caught Keane high during the first quarter of last Friday’s practice match at Alberton Oval.

The Power had pushed for a three-game suspension, saying anything more would have made him a scapegoat.

Wednesday’s hearing was the first held under new tribunal guidelines that ensured the panel did not have to be guided by previous seasons’ decisions and could take into account “evolving community standards”.

Powell-Pepper, who pleaded guilty to rough conduct, was set to miss games against West Coast, Richmond, Melbourne and Essendon.

‘My main goal now is to just get back to the team and focus on the year ahead.’ The AFL tribunal has ruled Power star Sam Powell-Pepper will miss the first four games of the season. Should the club appeal the penalty? https://t.co/g5NTrKtuKp@7AFL#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/OLJC7b446J

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) February 28, 2024

Port Adelaide’s main arguments stemmed from Powell-Pepper saying he intended to tackle and biomechanics expert Dr Kath Shorter supporting that based on his body positioning.

The Power said Powell-Pepper had just 0.09 secs to react as the momentum of teammate Willie Rioli’s tackle took Keane towards him.

AFL counsel Lisa Hannon KC denied it was making Powell-Pepper a scapegoat, saying the “focus … in exercising discretion is going to be on the incident itself”.

Tribunal chair Renee Enbom KC said the panel did not accept Port’s view that Powell-Pepper’s conduct involved minimal culpability.

“We don’t accept that Keane moved in such a way when being tackled by Rioli that Powell-Pepper could not have reasonably anticipated the movement,” Enbom said.

Sam Powell-Pepper collects Mark Keane high. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

“As contact was about to occur, Powell-Pepper altered the position of his right shoulder and with his right arm tucked in made heavy and high contact with Keane.

“We consider Powell-Pepper’s conduct to have been very careless.

“He ran at speed towards a tackle that was occurring.

“He had a duty to take reasonable care to avoid headhigh contact when seeking to assist in a tackle.

“He did not take any steps to avoid the contact that ultimately occurred.”

Powell-Pepper will not play in Friday’s trial game against Fremantle because the Power is not requesting it from the AFL.

If Port had asked, it would have been up to the league.

His four-game ban will start in round 1.

Keane has shown encouraging signs as he bids to recover in time for the Crows’ round 1 match, away against Gold Coast on March 16.

Originally published as Sam Powell-Pepper banned for four matches for bump on Adelaide defender Mark Keane