Eddie McGuire reveals there is growing tension between AFL and clubs in wake of Sam Powell-Pepper furore

MAGPIES president Eddie McGuire weighed into the Sam Powell-Pepper furore following David Koch’s attack on the AFL, declaring clubs are “sick of being treated like franchises” by the league.

Sam Powell-Pepper has accepted his three-match suspension. Picture: Matt Turner

COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire has declared clubs are “sick of being treated like franchises” by the AFL.

Footy’s longest serving president weighed into the furore surrounding the AFL integrity unit’s handling of its investigation into Port Adelaide midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper.

It followed the release of an explosive “statement” by Power president David Koch accusing the AFL of “railroading a kid in trying to rebuild their reputation with women because of the misdemeanours of their own former executives”.

The Koch attack, aired on Triple M, was a direct reference to the forced resignations of AFL executives Simon Lethlean and Richard Simkiss in July last year over inappropriate relationships with younger female staff members.

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Koch on Thursday night distanced himself from the “statement” made in his name, telling the Herald Sun: “That (statement) missed my intentions, but not the subtlety of my feelings.”

McGuire fuelled the fire on his Triple M breakfast show.

“I’ll just give you a bit of background, so this is not me speaking as a president, I’ll just tell you what’s going on here — the clubs are getting sick of being treated like franchises,” McGuire said.

“The AFL commission was brought into place to act on behalf of the clubs. There is a very strong feeling that the clubs are there as a necessary impediment to the AFL hierarchy.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire weighed into the Sam Pepper-Pepper saga following David Koch’s attack on the AFL. Picture: Getty Images

“That’s not (AFL boss) Gill McLachlan — it’s the levels underneath — so Gil is running around doing great deals and things like that ... but in recent times you have had a message coming out saying: ‘We’re changing your theme songs’ or this situation — no impact from the club; ‘We’ll tell you what to do. You can’t stand there. Your banner has got to be this big. You can’t have this sponsor’ ... and it is building and building and building.

“Like anything in life, the pendulum swings too far and it’s got to be swung back.”

McGuire hinted at an unofficial gathering of club presidents to discuss the AFL’s control of clubs.

“Not to have a rebellion, but just to say, ‘Hang on, what is going on? What are the communication lines?’” McGuire said.

Powell-Pepper, 20, has accepted a three-game suspension from the AFL over an incident on the dancefloor of an Adelaide nightclub earlier this month but the club remains bemused by the league’s process.

“The whole respect and responsibility policy leaves the clubs in the dark,” Koch said.

“They take complete control. I issued them with a grievance notice before they would start talking sense.

“My biggest issue was they were railroading a kid in trying to rebuild their reputation with women because of the misdemeanours of their own former executives.

Port Adelaide has taken issue with the AFL’s handling of the Powell-Pepper investigation. Picture: Matt Turner

“In Sam Powell-Pepper’s case, a woman anonymously made these claims, did not press charges with police — which we were happy for her to do. We have vision of the entire night and the head of the integrity unit refused to see it.

“I’m putting it on the agenda at the next president’s meeting”.

The AFL declined to respond to Koch’s claims and also remains tight-lipped on allegations a former Fremantle staff member was paid money after lodging a sexual harassment complaint against a senior club figure.

The league commission, led by chairman Richard Goyder, will meet in Perth today where it will rule on a push for a twilight Grand Final.

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