Sam Powell-Pepper reveals message to Mark Keane after pre-season hit, sent straight to tribunal

Port Adelaide skipper Connor Rozee has revealed Sam Powell-Pepper was “rattled” after his head-high hit on Adelaide’s Mark Keane as the forward received his verdict from the AFL.

Port Adelaide leadership group member Sam Powell-Pepper has been referred to the tribunal for his high bump that left Adelaide’s Mark Keane concussed in match simulation between the Power and Crows last week.

Powell-Pepper is in line to miss at least the first three matches of the season after the Match Review Officer graded his bump on Keane as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.

It comes as Power captain Connor Rozee Powell-Pepper was “a bit rattled”, and the Power leadership group member himself said it wasn’t his intention to catch Keane high or leave him concussed and he sent the Crows key defender a message after the match simulation at Alberton.

While it wasn’t in an officially sanctioned match Powell-Pepper will have to serve any ban during the season.

He could feature in the Power’s pre-season game against Fremantle on Friday, but the AFL has discretion to allow him to feature in the practice game.

At the AFL captains day in Melbourne, Rozee said the high bump wasn’t the way Powell-Pepper played.

“He was a bit rattled, to be honest after the game,” Rozee said.

“He’s not that sort of person that to go headhunting for people. So I know he sent a message to Mark after the game.

“I know he’s pretty frustrated that obviously things looking like he’s gonna miss a couple of weeks. So yeah, he’s a little bit rattled and just trying to support him after the game and help him through.”

Sam Powell-Pepper’ high hit on Mark Keane. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

On Monday morning at Alberton Powell-Pepper said “it wasn’t a good hit” and he got it “wrong”.

“The first thing I did was flick Mark a message after the game,” he told Channel 7.

“It is never my intention to concuss anyone or hit anyone high. I think I play a tough, fair game and obviously got that one wrong.”

The loss of Keane to concussion further stretches the Crows key defensive stocks with Nick Murray still recovering from an ACL injury and Jordon Butts missing the hitout against the Power with a hamstring injury – but he is expected to be back for West Coast this Saturday.

Crows captain Jordan Dawson said Keane was recovering well.

“He’s getting better now. He wasn’t too great after the game but he’s coming better now,” he said.

“It’s disappointing for him but obviously he’s got a few weeks to recover and get himself right which is the main thing but he’s not too bad now.”

Originally published as Sam Powell-Pepper reveals message to Mark Keane after pre-season hit, sent straight to tribunal