Port Adelaide to stand in defiance of AFL ruling on Sam Powell-Pepper
PORT Adelaide is fighting to defend young midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper against an AFL integrity unit call to ban him for “inappropriate” off-field behaviour.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Thomas sent straight to tribunal
- Blight: Why Port is wide of mark
- Pack your bags, Port
- AFL Daily: All the latest news and views
PORT Adelaide could take on the AFL by naming Sam Powell-Pepper for SANFL action on Anzac Day - to prep him for an AFL recall on Saturday - in protest to the league’s findings on the midfielder’s off-field behaviour.
The Power on Monday night was still challenging the AFL integrity unit’s verdict that Powell-Pepper acted inappropriately towards a 20-year-old university student while leaving the dance floor at an Adelaide nightclub on April 8.
Also infuriating Port Adelaide is the AFL’s first call for Powell-Pepper to be banned for four games that was later reduced to three. The West Australian has missed one game - in round three - by a club-imposed ban for breaching team rules on a 2am curfew and excessive drinking in public.
Powell-Pepper did not play at the weekend against Geelong as he remained caught in the Power’s refusal to accept the AFL findings.
Port Adelaide executives and league officials remained at odds tonight (Monday) with the saga tomorrow (Tuesday) expected to drag to its 15th day while coach Ken Hinkley decides which AFL-listed players he releases for SANFL action on Wednesday against Sturt at Unley Oval.
It is possible Powell-Pepper is put against the Double Blues for half a game and the next day named for an AFL recall - a move that could have the league deregister the 20-year-old midfielder.
This would prompt a tribunal hearing - a move Port Adelaide president David Koch says will be met with a QC-led defence of Powell-Pepper.
“We’re prepared to take this matter further - to a hearing,” Koch said while putting the AFL on notice on Monday morning on Adelaide radio FIVEaa. “We’ve got QCs’ opinions on it who have actually seen the vision of the night.
“They (AFL integrity unit is) alleging inappropriate behaviour. We don’t even think it goes that far.”
The AFL’s investigation - closed last week - also was under fire from Koch amid his frustration at being denied a full viewing of the integrity unit’s report.
There are also claims the investigation lacks depth. The Advertiser understands the leader of the league’s 15-person integrity unit, former Victoria Police homicide senior detective Tony Keane, has not watched all four hours of the video from Powell-Pepper’s time at the Mr Kim’s nightclub.
The video remains the property of the nightclub. The owners insisted their staff be compensated for work hours lost while sitting with AFL staff to review the vision - a fee the league declined to pay.
Port Adelaide is refusing to have Powell-Pepper - while he maintains his innocence and by a lack of evidence - become an agenda-setting example for the league’s campaign on respect to women. This end game from AFL House is seen as linked to last year’s internal scandal that cost two leading executives their jobs for their extramarital affairs with female staffers at headquarters.
At least one other AFL club has encouraged Port Adelaide to stand firm noting the long-term consequences to the player on striking a compromise with the league’s integrity unit.
Koch highlighted his club’s dismay and frustration with the AFL integrity unit in a bitter public reaction in his regular spot on radio FIVEaa.
“We are backing our player,” Koch said. “We think the allegations are completely misleading.
“If there’s evidence of any serious sexual abuse then we would throw the book at any player. Our (viewing of the) vision of what happened on the night bears no resemblance to any of that.”
michelangelo.rucci@news.com.au
Originally published as Port Adelaide to stand in defiance of AFL ruling on Sam Powell-Pepper
Footy bad boy, reality star drop huge news
An AFL superstar and his former Big Brother contestant girlfriend have dropped news they called “the greatest surprise of all”.
The ‘disrespectful’ Showdown moment leaving a sour taste
Port Adelaide got a lot wrong in the 98-point defeat their crosstown rivals — but one moment stood out as lazy and disrespectful. See all the R20 likes and dislikes in The Lowdown.