Port Adelaide forward Sam Powell-Pepper has been dealt a four-match suspension for the high bump that concussed Adelaide defender Mark Keane.

The Power’s bid to reduce the suspension to three matches was unsuccessful.

In a marathon three and a half-hour Tribunal hearing, the Port defence had attempted to reduce the 26-year old’s suspension to three games, with Powell-Pepper claiming his sole intent was to tackle Keane and that his amount of time to avoid contact with the Crow as teammate Willie Rioli’s tackle slung him into his path was grounds for mitigation.

The Power also argued the AFL was attempting to ‘make a scapegoat’ of Powell-Pepper in calling for a four-match suspension, in an ongoing attempt to eradicate concussion from the game following a series of head-knock related retirements, including Melbourne midfielder Angus Brayshaw only last week.

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