PORT ADELAIDE forward Sam Powell-Pepper will miss the opening four rounds of the AFL season after being suspended for four games by the AFL Tribunal.
Powell-Pepper pleaded guilty to a charge of rough conduct over a bump on Adelaide defender Mark Keane during last Friday’s pre-season match simulation with the Crows.
The Irishman was concussed in the incident, which occurred in the 19th minute of the opening period of the contest.
The AFL’s Match Review Officer classified the contact as careless conduct, with high contact and of severe impact.
Once Powell-Pepper had entered his guilty plea at the tribunal hearing on Wednesday morning, the only point of contention was the appropriate sanction, with the AFL asking for four games and Port Adelaide’s legal counsel suggesting three games was more appropriate.
Giving evidence, Powell-Pepper said he had intended to help teammate Willie Rioli tackle Mark Keane, and he could not remember what had happened in the split second in which Keane’s body was turned towards his in the tackle.
“I play the half forward role and that requires a lot of repeat efforts and applying a lot of pressure,” Powell-Pepper said in his evidence.
“It all happened very quickly but I wouldn’t have been too far away (from where the tackle was taking place).
“My sole intention was to tackle, to come in and help Willie Rioli in the tackle.
“I remember getting my feet set and getting into a low point in order to tackle.
“I don’t really remember what happened in that split second. It happened so quickly.”
Powell-Pepper explained that immediately after the game he had sought Keane’s phone number and sent him a text message to check on him.
Acting for Powell-Pepper, lawyer Ben Krupka called evidence from human movement expert Dr Kath Shorter, who suggested the way Powell-Pepper planted his feet was consistent with him preparing for a tackle rather than a bump, and his body position was front on rather than side-on, which was also consistent with a tackle and not a bump.
Dr Shorter said there was less than a tenth of a second in which Powell-Pepper could have changed from his tackle pattern into a bump, which is not enough time to make a conscious decision.
AFL counsel Lisa Hannon KC reminded the tribunal the AFL’s new regulations meant past sanctions and incidents were no longer required to be considered.
She said the four-week suspension did not suggest Powell-Pepper ran in with an intention to bump Keane, but that it was “an entirely predictable outcome” for an incident in which he had a responsibility to protect Keane’s head.
Ms Hannon suggested that in 2024 a four-week ban was appropriate to set a deterrent to other players and set a standard of expectations to the AFL community regarding head contact.
Mr Krupka argued a three-week suspension was a “fair and proportionate penalty”.
He highlighted the time Powell-Pepper had to make a decision to bump was 0.09 seconds, not enough time to blink an eye let alone decide to bump.
Mr Krupka urged the tribunal not to make Powell-Pepper a “scapegoat” or “unfair example” given the current discussion around concussion, and instead only decide the penalty based on the evidence and level of culpability.
“Sam has never tried to avoid his responsibility for what occurred. We are here to argue for a fair and proportionate penalty within the rules.
“There was no conscious decision to bump. What culpability there is lies within the last 0.09 of a second, less than a tenth of a second. It was most likely a reflex action.”
“Sam gave evidence that his intention was to tackle. That was supported by the stills. That was supported by the video.
“It was totally inconsistent with an intention to bump.”
Earlier the tribunal heard the medical report from the Crows suggested Keane was recovering well and expected to be available to play in Round 1.
The tribunal panel, made up of Chair Renee Enbom KC and past players Paul Williams and Jordan Bannister deliberated for more than 90 minutes before arriving at the four-week decision.
It means Powell-Pepper will miss games against West Coast, Richmond, Melbourne and Essendon.
The club is considering its position around an appeal.
