Player Watch Pick #18 (2016) - Sam Powell-Pepper

[Ford Fairlane]

This moment in the game, Powell-Pepper with a player next to him and a player coming towards him, just goes in hard and the ball stays in the 50.

Crowd celebrated that effort like it was a goal.

That was a massive effort and duly appreciated by the Port faithful.

Heard today Sam wants to meet the guy with the You Got Peppered sign so he can autograph it.

 

[PrisonBars4life]

The final evolution for SPP is to become a clearance impact player. I think he's found his role now and will probably never be a full time mid. But I'd love to see him go in the there late in a game when we need a clearance and just will a game our way.

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Chappy type player would be awesome.

 

[RossFC]

Hope its ok to comment here.

SPP has been my favourite oppo player for a while now, I just like the way he goes about it. But jeez he's stepped it up this year.

You guys must love him.

Last season was when it clicked for him. Was just about our most consistent player over the whole season in terms of effort.

 

[JakeNeadeFan]

When he does go into stoppage he is usually very effective in there. I think he already does that part of the game well.

I dont actually think there is much in his game that needs to be improved, outside of perhaps goal kicking. And that could go for the whole team.

 

[JohnHinckleyJr]

SPP is port Adelaide..

I remember a few years back a lot of people wanted him gone .

 

[Sir Watchalot]

Last season was when it clicked for him. Was just about our most consistent player over the whole season in terms of effort.

Realising he could build a career and what that could mean for him seems to have been the thing. Especially with an almost instant family. He was a very, very good footballer from the get-go. One day we'll probably have him sit down and tell us all the things that went on with him when he was sent back to WA. He came back thank heavens. I thought he was going to do a Nathan Krakouer on us. Perhaps there are only so many jobs driving bulldozers over there.

 

[Sir Watchalot]

SPP is port Adelaide..

I remember a few years back a lot of people wanted him gone .

I remember being fed up with the drama. He was in Channel 7's sights for sure. I didn't want him gone but I understand why some people did. You don't always get a happy ending to that stuff, probably you rarely do. Interesting that many of the people who dealt with him then seemed happy to move Peter Ladhams unceremoniously on.

 

[bomberclifford]

I remember a few years back a lot of people wanted him gone

There was good reason to at that time. There's no doubt he has turned things around massively, and his personal life settling down has been a big part of that, but lets not pretend there weren't some serious problems with his behaviour before this change.

 

[Jonts]

Interestingly enough Jon Ralph mentioned that eagles couldve had SPP for a 3rd rounder 2 years ago

 

[It Just Is]

There was good reason to at that time. There's no doubt he has turned things around massively, and his personal life settling down has been a big part of that, but lets not pretend there weren't some serious problems with his behaviour before this change.

He isn’t the first and won’t be the last person to mature in their 20’s. Glad the club didn’t take the easy way out, even if that was only because there were no takers.

 

[Sir Watchalot]

He isn’t the first and won’t be the last person to mature in their 20’s. Glad the club didn’t take the easy way out, even if that was only because there were no takers.

Yeah, there are more sliding doors in his career so far than in a Doors Are Us

 

[bomberclifford]

He isn’t the first and won’t be the last person to mature in their 20’s. Glad the club didn’t take the easy way out, even if that was only because there were no takers.

Absolutely. He’s become a big part of the foundation of our squad and potentially a club leader in years to come. It’s probably the biggest turn around in our AFL era.

 

[Sir Watchalot]

Absolutely. He’s become a big part of the foundation of our squad and potentially a club leader in years to come. It’s probably the biggest turn around in our AFL era.

Adam Kingsley?

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Adam Kingsley?

All Adam Kingsley did was get a bit fitter and even then he probably had a couple of relatively productive seasons before his career ended.

SPP's turnaround has been much more dramatic and much earlier.

 

[Sir Watchalot]

All Adam Kingsley did was get a bit fitter and even then he probably had a couple of relatively productive seasons before his career ended.

SPP's turnaround has been much more dramatic and much earlier.

I think Kingsley's ride was plenty dramatic. Kingsley went from 1998 Jack Cahill medal, to verge of delisting, to premiership player. Though I agree it lacks being sent away to think about things, and a near vendetta from a TV station.
EDIT: and the very public mea culpa about fitness, and entering a fitness training programme in the off-season that wasn't such a common thing back then

 

[raman]

It’s probably the biggest turn around in our AFL era.

Who had the biggest turn around in the opposite direction?

Heuskes AA in 1997, overweight probable rapist in ‘98?

 

[backtozero]

It's interesting reading about how some of early AFL players were perceived at the time. As a kid that started following Port in 1997, Adam Kingsley

Adam Kingsley

Age

49

Ht

183cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.9

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

16.4

4star

K

10.4

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

was always a star. Donald Dickie, too.

 

[HugeJohnson]

Who had the biggest turn around in the opposite direction?

Heuskes AA in 1997, overweight probable rapist in ‘98?

Wingard looked like the second coming of Gary Ablett Jr, 2 AA's by 22yo. Now he's struggling at one of the bottom clubs. There is no way anyone would have predicted that kind of drop off

 

[Sir Watchalot]

Who had the biggest turn around in the opposite direction?

Heuskes AA in 1997, overweight probable rapist in ‘98?

One we should leave alone because it had ramifications for others. So lucky social media wasn't a thing the, But did look fetching in a little Chennile dress apparently.

 

[Sir Watchalot]

Wingard looked like the second coming of Gary Ablett Jr, 2 AA's by 22yo. Now he's struggling at one of the bottom clubs. There is no way anyone would have predicted that kind of drop off

We (well me) couldn't see it when it was staring me in the face. 'Wingard will lift next week' I'd think. Then he was gone, shouting "They made me do it" as he drove his heavily loaded car up Glen Osmond Rd.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Power of change: SPP's shift from inside bull to forward threat

A couple of years ago, after a chat with Yartapuulti coach Ken Hinkley, the tough and physically imposing inside midfielder was handed the task of seeing if his distinctive skillset could be transitioned into an attacking role. Powell-Pepper didn't think twice. He instantly set about becoming the best pressure half-forward he could be.

 

[snozulu]

As an advocate for mental health i really think this is a great initiative for SPP and Port's community programs in partnership with Break through.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

The fact that my first thought when I heard about the Narkle/SPP connection was what a perfect role model SPP would be to help Narkle get the best out of his talents speaks volumes for how proud he should be of his journey.

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[It Just Is]

The fact that my first thought when I heard about the Narkle/SPP connection was what a perfect role model SPP would be to help Narkle get the best out of his talents speaks volumes for how proud he should be of his journey.

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I thought the same as I read back to back articles about SPP being in recruiting meetings and Jonas being left out of the best 22.

 

[Progressive Aggresion]

2 goals from the top shelf tonight!

I'd argue his best career game so far.