The 26-year-old immediately pleaded guilty to the rough conduct charge,but Port’s lawyer Ben Krupka argued Powell-Pepper should miss three matches instead of the four-game sanction sought by the AFL.
The tribunal deliberated for more than 90 minutes before considering Powell-Pepper’s conduct “very reckless”,completing a three-and-a-half-hour hearing.
In his closing remarks before the tribunal deliberated,Krupka warned the panel it had to treat this case the same as if it was a “Brownlow Medal favourite” or “someone about to play in a grand final”.
“What is not legitimate is to make a scapegoat of Mr Powell-Pepper in this instance,” Krupka said.
“The appropriate penalty is three games,and in our submission anything further would be manifestly excessive.
“This case will then serve as the base point for the others that come before you throughout the course of the year.