Power still chasing answers from AFL when Powell-Pepper can return to play
PORT Adelaide Football Club continues to chase the AFL integrity unit for answers on the Powell-Pepper case and when the midfielder might be available to play again.
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PORT Adelaide is at odds with the AFL on a league integrity investigation that finds midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper guilty of inappropriate behaviour in an Adelaide nightclub.
The AFL integrity unit also has recommended Powell-Pepper be banned as punishment from the allegations from a 20-year-old university student.
Port Adelaide president David Koch is rejecting the findings and prepared to defend Powell-Pepper at an AFL hearing.
The 20-year-old West Australian has strenuously denied the claims made after a late and drink-fuelled night that cost him a one-game ban from his Power team-mates.
“We are backing our player,” said Koch adding he has QC advice to fight the AFL findings.
“The allegations - and the media allegations (in the original report on Channel 7) - are completely misleading,” Koch said on radio FIVEaa.
The AFL investigation ended last week, but the Power has just the summary from the integrity unit and its recommendation that Powell-Pepper be banned. Koch says his club is “frustrated” by not having access to the full report.
“We want to see the report,” he said. “We have seen video of the entire night. Our view is it does not match the (AFL) findings of the integrity unit report.
“We want to see the report and other evidence, if any.
“If the evidence (stacks up) we’d throw the book at any player. But the allegations of inappropriate behaviour (by Powell-Pepper) - we do not think it even goes that far.
“If the video showed anything that bad we’d be the first to take action. Our investigation does not match what the (AFL) integrity unit is alleging.
“He was drunk and disorderly - and he has been sanctioned (by the club).
“(This case) has put enormous pressure on this young man.”
Powell-Pepper stood out of selection at the weekend when Port Adelaide played Geelong at Adelaide Oval.
Originally published as Power still chasing answers from AFL when Powell-Pepper can return to play
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