On Thursday, standard AFL participant Angus Brayshaw was pressured to retire on the age of simply 28 on account of repeated concussions.
Barely 24 hours later, Port Adelaide’s Sam Powell-Pepper opted to bump an opponent and instigate a sickening collision in, of all contests, an AFL observe match.
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Adelaide’s Mark Keane was being slung in a deal with from Port’s Willie Rioli within the first quarter at Alberton Oval when Powell-Pepper – just lately elevated to the membership’s management group – made the choice to step in.
Setting his 96kg body, the burly midfielder appeared to land his shoulder flush on the proper aspect of Keane’s head.
The 23-year-old Crow instantly crumpled to the bottom and appeared very worse for put on, helped from the bottom with assistance from two trainers.
The bump itself, as soon as a staple of AFL matches, has nearly been outlawed, whereas any contact with the pinnacle will result in a sure inquisition from the Match Evaluate Panel.
With concussion within the highlight as soon as extra after Brayshaw’s unhappy retirement, Powell-Pepper is certain to face intense scrutiny.
“Sam Powell-Pepper taking absolutely the piss, sooner or later after one other participant needed to retire from AFL on account of concussion,” was the caption on one put up of the incident on X.
“Oh boy. Powell-Pepper has the prospect to deal with. He vegetation his toes and knocks his opponent into subsequent week. Ignores every part the AFL is asking gamers to think about about obligation of care,” wrote journalist Jon Ralph on X.
The response to the incident was swift and damning as hypothesis swirled a few doable suspension for the 26-year-old, lower than two weeks out from the beginning of the season.
“Take pleasure in a few weeks off Sam,” was one remark.
“If they’re critical that’s 6 weeks,” wrote one other.
Including somewhat salt into the wound was the reported commentary of just lately retired Port skipper Tom Jonas.
As Keane was helped from the sector, Jonas mentioned: “Didn’t look loads in it, simply Sam Powell-Pepper attacking the ball.”
Even for a former teammate, that could be a hell of a stretch if true, as Powell-Pepper clearly had zero curiosity within the ball.
In one other main stretch of actuality, others tried to recommend the sling deal with had been the supply of the incident.
“Are we going to disregard the deal with actually inflicting this,” was one remark.
“Tackler threw him round at a horrible time. Doesn’t look good, however laborious to put sole blame on SPP,” wrote one other.
Whatever the moments main as much as the hit, Powell-Pepper made the selection to set himself and join with Keane’s head, ruling him out of the sport with concussion.
There appears little doubt Powell-Pepper can begin planning for a delayed begin to his 2024 marketing campaign.
By way of the rating, the groups have been locked at 14.9 (93) apiece after 4 28-minute quarters earlier than the membership’s youthful and SANFL gamers took to the sector for 2 quarters.
After the six quarters, Port claimed a 21.12 (138) to 17.14 (116) win.
