Port Adelaide forward Sam Powell-Pepper faces a possible suspension for a bump which concussed Adelaide’s Mark Keane in an AFL practice match.
Powell-Pepper collected Keane’s head with a hip-and-shoulder bump in the first quarter of the drawn trial game at Alberton Oval on Friday evening.
The Power star kicked two goals and scores were tied 14.9 (93) apiece after four quarters.
The first-term flashpoint came as Keane had possession and was caught in a Willie Rioli tackle that swung the Crow as Powell-Pepper charged in.
Powell-Pepper’s right shoulder struck Keane on the right side of his head.
Keane slumped to the ground as Crows staff rushed to his aid, with the Irish-born backman soon helped from the field by two medicos.
Powell-Pepper, added to the Power’s leadership group for the looming season, will be scrutinised by the AFL’s match review officer.
And although Port have another trial game next weekend, any suspension to Powell-Pepper would be served in the premiership season.
The Power’s campaign opens with a home match against West Coast on March 17.
The incident has since been slammed around the footy world, with News Corp reporter Jon Ralph saying Powell-Pepper’s hit ‘ignores everything the AFL is asking players to consider about duty of care’.
“We know the way Pep plays, he’s hard and tough, but I can’t comment on the actual contest,” Port assistant coach Chad Cornes said.
The incident is also another blow to Adelaide’s depleted stocks of tall defenders, with Keane placed under AFL concussion protocols for the next 12 days.
There was some suggestion of Keane suffering a broken jaw but Adelaide assistant coach Scott Burns was awaiting information post-game.
“Honestly, I haven’t seen him or checked with the doctors so I can’t really answer that,” Burns said.
Keane had been earmarked to fill a void left by sidelined big backmen Nick Murray (knee reconstruction) and Jordon Butts (foot).
Murray won’t be fit until mid-season while fullback Butts, who suffered a foot injury last July which ended his 2023 season, suffered a hamstring injury three weeks ago.
Mark Keane sustained a concussion after a high hit from Sam Powell-Pepper. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
The off-season departure of versatile Tom Doedee to Brisbane has also thinned Adelaide’s taller options in defence.
Keane’s injury pushed the Crows into an early unveiling of prized draftee Daniel Curtin in a tall defensive slot in a free-flowing trial game before a 5,211-strong crowd at Port’s Alberton base.
Adelaide’s vaunted attack, the highest scoring in the league last season in the home-and-away rounds, again threatened.
Crow Ned McHenry kicked three goals and teammates Riley Thilthorpe, Darcy Fogarty, Izak Rankine, Josh Rachele and Ben Keays finished with two each.
Port’s Rioli, Darcy Byrne-Jones and Ryan Burton, rebounding from halfback, joined Powell-Pepper with two goals apiece.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah given how much ACLs recur it’s best to take a conservative approach.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
I have confidence Mitch will come good,he was not named to play this weekend which says definately taking the conservative approach towards his comeback,the SANFL starts later so not likely to see him for a bit,couple of games in the SANFL probably needed
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Fair enough he will come good though but if port want a reasonable draft pick it may be worthwhile trading him to west coast
Maxy
Roar Rookie
yeah,I think so
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah I’d expect he will come back through the twos.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah that’s exactly the role you want BZT playing the problem you run into is his ability in the air and his disposal is rather limited but he will grow in confidence if he can play 15 matches in the year
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Liked what I have seen from BZT so far,Esava might be a bit nerve wracking to watch down back,lol ....he was recruited to play fullback so nothing fancy needed from him,all we want is him to help nullify the big talls of the AFL..dont care if he gets 5 possessions a game just keep his opponent in check and let Aliir do all the fancy stuff,BZT looks like he reads the ball well coming down so he could help intercepting or 3rd man up also
Maxy
Roar Rookie
yeah,think he only came on in the 4th quarter against the crows[they played 6 quarters] on the weekend so obviously taking the conservative approach,will see how much he plays this week against Freo,it will probably be a likely round 1 team Port will roll out I think
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah he ruptured his acl early last year? Given his injury history I’d expect they’re being extremely conservative with his progress
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Sav is an athlete more than a back so be prepared for him to make as many mistakes as freakish things. BZT came out of his shell in his last year at Essendon if he doesn’t need to match up on the oppositions best key forward he will be good
Lincoln
Roar Rookie
If Maynard, Cripps and Cotchin get nothing then how can SPP get 4 weeks for less? Oh I know, he doesn't play for a big VFL club.
Cale Hellyer
Roar Rookie
Plenty of people are more upset that SPP can’t just potentially wreck an opponent’s brain than Brayshaw retiring because of head trauma. That says a lot about the character of these types of people.
Laurie
Roar Rookie
Totally agree. It did seem like Rioli was about to slam the Crows player into the ground. I wonder if the MRO will consider any of this.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
But they should be making a stand on sling tackles. I reckon Rioli had not intended it but was his inputs that caused the sling. He bears culpability. SPP had an inadvertent action of which l think he’s near enough to blameless. ——- And I’m for cutting down on tackles that cause head / brain issues but I’m into fairness too. It’s a contact sport where collisions happen.
Curmudgeon1961
Roar Rookie
Well a lot of Port Supporters dont him very much either.
Laurie
Roar Rookie
Yeah I'm not trying to get him off the charge or anything, I just think there was some bad luck with Rioli slinging Keane so quickly. There's talk of a 5 week suspension. It's probably fair enough. They need to send a message.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
I would have to watch the clip again, I know Rioli sling tackled the crows player towards SPP but SPP didn’t need to go through with the bump,no 50/50 ball…I edited this after watching the clip,will be interesting to see what he gets
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
As above, the sling tackle was the issue. SPP is one week at best in a clear thinking world
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I'm Crows, as if you didn't know, but l think the sling was the issue. SPP's contribution was not malicious or even intended. His was an amygdala response. ------- I think the slinger is the main culprit
Deneb1973
Roar Rookie
If the AFL was serious about eliminating a specific conduct, it would suspend for the greater of a set number of games or until the injured player returns to competitive footy. If the player is forced to medically retire, the offending player is suspended for one year from the injury. Question. Should the AFL not also suspend coaches like Mr. Hinkley who declare that they will direct their players to attack specific opponent players (Neale)?