Sam Powell-Pepper has made peace with his past and is in a much better place to tell his life story
Port Adelaide midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper is more comfortable talking about his tough upbringing and he reveals how his life change when he moved in with Power teammate Travis Boak.
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When I was younger, I was very shy when it came to telling my story.
I’m not ashamed of it, it is just something that has always been quite personal.
Although I’ve come a long way and I now recognise that talking about it always helps.
That’s exactly what I did last December at a pre-season camp in front of the Port Adelaide players and coaching staff.
It was the chance for players to come up the front and share their journeys and personal stories.
It was brought on by the work we’ve done with The Resilience Project, which focuses heavily on connection, gratitude and owning your vulnerability.
It inspired a few of the boys to share some personal stories in which we really opened up to each other like never before.
That has progressed through the year where different players have opened up at different stages and told stories about themselves.
Even the coaches have got involved, and it’s helped strengthen the connection between the group.
When I got up, I spoke about my journey.
Growing up I probably stayed at about five different places and I probably saw a lot more than I should have.
There have been a lot of life experiences.
I lived with my father until I was eight. Then my nan took me and my brother Jacob in.
She taught me a lot of good values and that’s when I started to really get into my footy.
It was a challenging childhood but I’ve never wanted sympathy.
People can see it as tough but I like to focus on all the good times I’ve had with my mum and dad and siblings.
I’ve made peace with my past and I don’t get stuck in it.
I never thought I’d be in this position today where some people are looking up at me.
My little cousins and nieces and nephews are all looking up to me like a role model and I want to make the most of that.
We’re in the here and now and I’m in a much better position than I was back then.
And I want to use that platform to help.
EARLY FOOTY DAYS
One day I came home from school and my dad and my uncle were kicking the footy to each other.
They were kicking drop punts making it spin backwards, whereas when I kicked it I was just torping it or bombing it.
I asked my dad how to kick a drop punt and that started my love affair with footy.
That led to playing at school every lunch time.
As time went on I kept playing a bit more and realised it was the sport I was probably a bit better at so I stuck with it.
I grew up in Perth in a few different suburbs and a few different houses.
My first junior club was the Morley Bulldogs, where I played half a season.
Then it was the Mount Hawthorn Cardinals for about six years.
Footy was my escape and not just for me but my nan as well.
She loved coming to all my games and she was always the loudest one there cheering.
Being excited turning up to games with your footy boots was something to always look forward to.
All week I’d be excited about it.
When I got a bit older I was able to obtain an Indigenous boarding school sports scholarship to Wesley College.
It was halfway through Year 10 when I arrived there.
Given where I came from, the school felt like a completely different world.
An all-boys school was a bit different and I had to get used to living in a boarding house away from nan’s place.
I got used to it quickly though and everyone there was amazing.
It was also where I learned more about where I came from.
My dad is of English heritage and my mum is Aboriginal and a Torres Strait Islander.
I’m very proud of my Indigenous heritage and I’ve learned a bit about it over the years.
That has grown over time and last year I was fortunate enough to design Port’s Indigenous jumper, which was a huge honour.
MY FOOTY DREAM
I was about 16 when I first thought I might be able to make a career out of footy.
I started having a few talks with AFL clubs, which is when it starts getting exciting.
That’s when I started to knuckle down.
At the time I had a few people around me who gave me good advice on what I needed to do to make it.
I started to put a lot of effort into my diet and my work ethic.
I made that adjustment myself.
There were still off-field challenges, but I always had the mindset if I worked hard and put my mind into it, I could make it.
JOINING PORT ADELAIDE
Like a lot of West Australian kids, I barracked for West Coast growing up and I would’ve loved to have played there.
But it wasn’t long before I grew a soft spot for the Power.
Before the draft, Port Adelaide came to see me and they made me feel really welcome and comfortable.
On draft night, I watched it at Karen and Greg DeLores’ house.
I was living there at the time and they were like my second family growing up.
I came to know them when I was living at my nan’s house and they had a son who was my age that I went to school with.
When my name was called out it was one of the best feelings of my life.
That’s when I started getting text messages from the Port players.
It began to feel real.
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EARLY DAYS AT PORT
I was happy to leave WA.
It was obviously a bit daunting going to a different state, but Port Adelaide made me feel welcome the second I walked in the door.
They made it clear they’d look after me and it has been great from day one to today.
All the draftees stayed together when we first arrived and it was daunting to rock up to the first training session.
I didn’t need to worry though because straight away I felt welcomed.
Thankfully I didn’t have to wait too long for my debut, playing in Round 1 of my first year.
It was against Sydney at the SCG.
While it was my first game, it was also Travis Boak’s 200th game, so it was a special occasion.
The game was a blur because I just couldn’t believe I was playing an AFL match.
And not only playing but I was getting a few touches and kicking a few goals as well.
It’s a day I’ll never forget.
KENNY AND I
From the very first day at Port Adelaide, Kenny Hinkley has made me feel loved and cared for.
He’s put a lot of time into me over the years. That’s the type of man he is.
And the thing I love is even now I could walk into his office, sit down and we could chat about absolutely anything.
He’s got that real care factor and not just for me, but with all the boys.
I feel like he’s family and we can have those really open conversations about life.
He’s been through challenges in his life as well, so I feel like we can connect on that level.
He’s a legend.
TRADE TALK IN 2019
For the first time in my career, there was some scuttlebutt last year I might leave Port Adelaide.
From my side, there was nothing really said between the club and my management.
Although I was in and out of the side in 2019 and we weren’t playing finals.
I wasn’t playing consistent footy, so coming into this year I set myself some goals and just wanted to prove that I could be a consistent player.
Kenny always believed in me and so did everyone at the club.
They knew I had talent and that I was a hard worker, and I’m glad I’ve been able to string it together this year.
I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
LIVING WITH BOAKY
It started at training one day about three years ago.
I was with “Boaky” and we started joking around, and before long he was having me over for dinner.
At the end of that year, he asked me if I wanted to move in with him.
It shocked me, but I fitted in straight away with him and his sister.
Right from the start it was like a little family, and I’ve been there ever since.
It’s been great for me and it’s changed my life for the better.
When I started living there, I was still a bit immature and less professional than I am now.
He’s helped teach me what it takes to be an AFL footballer.
It’s hard to explain everything he’s done for me, but I think it was just meant to be.
I was supposed to come and live here and learn from him.
I’d like to think I’ve taught him a little bit as well.
He’s like my big brother.
OUR OPPORTUNITY IN 2020
In 2020, I’ve been able to get out of my own head on the field a lot more.
I feel really grounded and I’m in a good mental space.
The best part is I’m not over-thinking.
When I play, I normally play games out of my head.
Now I just go out and just play and it has made such a difference.
I also feel a lot more mature and a lot fitter, which has come from some goals I set myself at the start of the year.
There are less distractions in my life and that has also helped.
As a team, we knew we could be this good and we’ve come so far already.
We’ve been on top all year and we have a great opportunity in front of us.
If we take it with both hands we can definitely go all the way.
Originally published as Sam Powell-Pepper has made peace with his past and is in a much better place to tell his life story
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