Sam Powell-Pepper Biography

Sam Powell-Pepper will miss the first four games of the 2024 AFL season following a bump on Crow Mark Keane in a match simulation that left the Irishman concussed and deemed to be "very reckless" by the AFL Tribunal.

Port Adelaide tells Sam Powell-Pepper to show proper commitment to his AFL career after he pondered a trade to a rival club that failed to eventuate.

The 23-year-old has been unable to crack the regular midfield berth he craves at Port and was a medical substitute in the club's two finals this season.

"We will see how committed Sam is by the way he comes back for the pre-season. He needs to come back in a fitter state than what he has previously. If he does that, he has every chance to play in our midfield," Port's football manager Chris Davies said.

Sam Powell-Pepper is granted personal by Port Adelaide to focus on his wellbeing.

"Along with the rehabilitation of my broken hand, there are other parts of my life that need some work right now," Powell-Pepper said.

"I appreciate the support of the club, my coaches and teammates with this."

Sam Powell-Pepper signs a contract extension with Port Adelaide and will remain at the club until the end of 2022.

"It's really exciting to be able to be part of the Port Adelaide Football Club and stay with this exciting group we've got," Powell-Pepper said.

"The club has always supported me since I walked in the door in 2016 and I could not be happier to stay for at least another three years. The people here are like family and it feels like home. I can't wait to see what we can achieve together this year and in the future."

Sam Powell-Pepper is set to be deployed as a forward this season while also being used in short bursts through the midfield.

"We'd like to think we can get him spending some more time forward. Not just be a pressure forward, but he got lots of looks on goals last year," Power senior assistant coach Michael Voss said.

"Anyone that's getting that amount of shots on goal deserves a look at that part of the ground. He might be able to bring us something a little bit different.

"He's genuinely powerful, and what we're trying to work out is where we best spend that power. If he can come in and pinch-hit through midfield and really scare some people, we'd be pretty happy with that."

Port Adelaide defensive coach Brett Montgomery says Sam Powell-Pepper is physically primed for an impactful 2019 season after dropping some weight.

"He was winning everything, he was well prepared. He's dropped weight, he's running better," Montgomery said of Powell-Pepper.

"They'd be a cost in that, whether it be strength or power, but we certainly haven't noticed any on the track, he's been really impressive."

Sam Powell-Pepper apologises for a private photograph he uploaded to Instagram.

Powell-Pepper put up a non-explicit photo of him in his underwear, while his clothed girlfriend rested her head on his leg.

It has since been deleted and the AFL is considering the matter.

"I posted the image by accident and immediately removed it once I realised," Powell-Pepper wrote.

"It's a private image that was not intended to be shared publicly."

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas has launched a scathing attack on Channel Seven for its coverage of an off-field incident involving midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper.

Thomas said the allegations made by Channel Seven that Powell-Pepper was being investigated for sexual assault unfairly damaged his reputation.

"We believe that set the tone for the entire investigation," Thomas said.

"The investigation was immediately on the back foot, it was dealing with a public perception that was being created and not controlled.

"A charge like that can leave a stain on someone's reputation and life forever."

A final statement from the AFL, approved by Port Adelaide, labelled Powel-Pepper's actions as "inappropriate contact", which Thomas would not elaborate on.

"What we were keen on, was ensuring that people understood the difference between what happened and sexual assault was vast, and that's an important distinction," Thomas said.

Sam Powell-Pepper apologises for his drunken late-night incident where he made "inappropriate contact" with a female.

"I've let my team and my club down, so I can't be sorry enough," Powell-Pepper told Channel Nine.

"I've made her feel uncomfortable and I'm very sorry for that.

"When those first claims (of sexual assault) were brought up, it really hit me hard because I'm not that type of person.

"I've learnt quite a few lessons in a short amount of time."

Sam Powell-Pepper is banned by the AFL for three games, two of which have been served, after being found to have made inappropriate contact with a female and found guilty of "inappropriate behaviour unbecoming for an AFL player" by being drunk in public.

The investigation was into an incident that occurred in the early hours of Sunday, April 8, with a complaint received the following day.

"Of most importance to Sam, the AFLPA and Port Adelaide was the AFL's finding that there was no evidence or suggestion of sexual or indecent assault, as has been speculated by some media outlets throughout the investigation," Port chief executive Keith Thomas said.

Port Adelaide is at loggerheads with the AFL over the handling of the Sam Powell-Pepper investigation, demanding to see the integrity unit's full report that recommends further sanctions on the Power midfielder.

The Power have been handed a summary of the report, but claim it doesn't reflect what happened based on footage the club has obtained.

"Our view is the report does not reflect properly what actually went on at the nightclub," Power chairman David Koch told Adelaide radio station FIVEaa.

"We think the allegations, and in particular some of the media allegations against Sam, on our evidence is completely misleading.

"We are stumped by that, we are frustrated by that, so frustrated, because it is putting enormous pressure on this young man."

Sam Powell-Pepper rules himself out of Port Adelaide's round 5 clash against Geelong as an AFL investigation continues into a late-night incident he was involved in.

"He's obviously not in the headspace that he probably feels like he needs to be in," Power coach Ken Hinkley said of Powell-Pepper's decision.

"It's caused him some grief and some concern, which it should have, but he's dealing with it and he'll handle it.

"That was a really mature decision for Sam and he made a decision based on what's best for the team."

Sam Powell-Pepper has served his one-game club imposed suspension for breaking team rules, but could face further punishment based on the findings of the AFL's investigation.

"We thought it might have been over by now and resolved, but it's such an important issue," Power chief executive Keith Thomas said.

"In effect, you've got two, 20-year-old people involved in an incident that needs to be fully understood.

"So, the AFL needs to take as much time as it needs to go through that process."

The Power and the AFL begin investigations on an incident from the early hours of Sunday morning involving Sam Powell-Pepper at an Adelaide nightclub.

"It was more the fact he was out pretty late, and as a group, we say by two o'clock you should be making your way home," Port Adelaide leadership group member Brad Ebert said.

"He was out past that time and he said he had a few drinks."

In what looms as one of the tightest NAB AFL Rising Star races in history, a recent quiet run could hurt Sam Powell-Pepper's chances.

Powell-Pepper had just six disposals and conceded five free kicks against Adelaide as the Power was thumped in the Showdown last Sunday.

Since round 16, he has averaged only 1.4 points per game in the Schick AFL Player Ratings, well down on his season average 9.5 points per game, having lined up in 19 games.

Sam Powell-Pepper signs a two-year contract extension with Port Adelaide that will see him remain at the club until the end of 2020.

"I'm really thrilled, I love the club and everyone here. I'm just stoked to be here for another two years on top of my current contract," Powell-Pepper said.

"It's been a fairytale start to play every game and be injury free; I couldn't ask for much more."

Port Adelaide is keeping faith with youngster Sam Powell-Pepper whose form has tailed off in the last two weeks after an explosive start to the year.

"I think he's doing what most younger players do, they come in and certainly get hold of what the game is about and they get challenged a little bit," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.

"I expect Sam to respond again this week."

Sam Powell-Pepper's excellent debut for the Power in their win over Sydney has earned the 19-year-old the first NAB AFL Rising Star nomination of the season.

The No.18 pick at last year's national draft gathered 19 touches, seven clearances, five inside 50s and kicked two important goals in his team's 28-point victory at the SCG, but admits his quick jump into the Power's starting team has surprised him.

"I wasn't too confident and wasn't sure if I was going to make an immediate impact. I thought I'd play a few SANFL games and then make my way up," Powell-Pepper said.

"I just tried to do as best I could over the pre-season and it's paid off. It was a very proud moment of mine to make my debut, I felt a bit weak inside because it was my dream ever since I was young to play in the AFL.

"Before the Sydney game I took it all in and tried to make the most of it."

Sam Powell-Pepper makes his AFL debut for Port Adelaide at the SCG with 19 disposals (12 kicks and 7 handballs), 3 marks, 2 tackles and 2 goals in a 28-point win over Sydney.

Sam Powell-Pepper is set to make his AFL debut in the Power's season opener against Sydney at the SCG.

The 19-year-old Western Australian sent social media into overdrive when he delivered a powerful fend off to Hawthorn triple-premiership player Shaun Burgoyne in the JLT Community Series.

"His first training session he put Hamish (Hartlett) straight on his arse, and not long after he dropped Ollie as well, so he certainly hasn't had any nerves," Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak said.

"He's a really special kid, super mature for his age and a guy that just goes about his business. He just wants to compete and he doesn't care who gets in the way."

Port coach Ken Hinkley says he has been impressed with draftee Sam Powell-Pepper.

"It's unfair to put too much pressure on him but he has done everything right," Hinkley said after comparing the youngster to Ollie Wines.

"I'm not saying Sam will play every game because it is a long challenging season, more so than ever for young players, but I will be staggered if he doesn't play some football this year."

Port Adelaide is banking on vice-captain Ollie Wines and impressive draftee Sam Powell-Pepper delivering a brutal one-two punch at ground level.

"It might be a case of the crash brothers with those two (Wines and Powell-Pepper) in there," the Power's midfield manager Michael Voss said.

"They certainly know how to throw their weight around.

"Sam is on the younger end, but he has a physical, mature body that will handle the rigours of senior footy.

"Over time, we will get them playing senior footy together and hopefully they play a lot of footy together.

"I'm not sure how much of that is this year, but I'm excited with what both of them are doing."

Port Adelaide recruit Sam Powell-Pepper has signalled his intention to bring physically and toughness to the Power.

"Ever since I could remember playing junior footy I've gone in hard, bumping and making tackles," Powell-Pepper said.

"I like that side of footy.

"My expectations are to put my head down and work hard and earn the respect of the boys and learn the culture and the game-plan of the team."

Port Adelaide select Sam Powell-Pepper with pick No.18 in the 2016 National Draft.

"Sam plays the game at great intensity, attacks the contest, the man and goes hard after the ball," Port Adelaide national recruiting manager Geoff Parker said.

"He’ll be a reall good fit for what our coaching staff want. His athletic qualities will help him get around the ground."