Sam Powell-Pepper

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Sam Powell-Pepper

| image = Sam Powell-Pepper 2017.2.jpg

| caption = Powell-Pepper playing for Port Adelaide in June 2017

| fullname = Samuel Powell-Pepper

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|01|8|df=y}}

| birth_place = Western Australia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = East Perth (WAFL)/Wesley College (PSA)

| draftpick = No. 18, 2016 national draft

| debutdate = Round 1, 2017

| debutteam = {{AFL Syd}}

| debutopponent = {{AFL|PA}}

| debutstadium = Sydney Cricket Ground

| height = 187 cm

| weight = 96 kg

| position = Midfielder / forward

| currentclub = {{AFL|PA}}

| guernsey = 2

| years1 = 2017–

| club1 = {{AFL|PA}}

| games_goals1 = 149 (115)

| statsend = round 7, 2025

| careerhighlights =

AFL Rising Star nominee (2017)
2× 22under22 team (2018, 2020)
Gavin Wanganeen Medal (2017)

}}

Samuel Powell-Pepper (born 8 January 1998) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life

Powell-Pepper was born in Perth, the son of Maureen and Steven. His mother is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and his father is caucasian.[http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/port-adelaide/sam-powellpepper-pays-tribute-to-former-teammates-family-after-round-1-rising-star-nomination/news-story/050f40b39e7f66773097a5c388d1114e Sam Powell-Pepper pays tribute to former teammate’s family after Round 1 Rising Star nomination][http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/resilience-the-driving-force-behind-sam-powellpeppers-draft-bid/news-story/d71dd6190727eb9efdff1290b9335fbe Resilience the driving force behind Sam Powell-Pepper's draft bid][http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-11-01/tomorrows-heroes-sam-powellpepper-bigbodied-mid-ready-for-afl Tomorrow's heroes: Sam Powell-Pepper, big-bodied mid ready for AFL] He has two full siblings and two half-brothers. His parents separated when he was young and he lived with his father until he was eight, then spent periods with his paternal grandmother, his mother, and friends' families.[https://thewest.com.au/sport/rising-port-adelaide-star-sam-powell-pepper-picks-up-from-broken-past-ng-b88559375z Rising Port Adelaide star Sam Powell-Pepper picks up from broken past]

Powell-Pepper initially attended Mount Lawley Senior High School as an inaugural member of the school’s Aboriginal Excellence Program, before switching to Wesley College on an indigenous scholarship.{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/port-adelaide/new-recruit-sam-powellpeppers-power-nothing-to-sneeze-at/news-story/783f32813501dcb559d0bd8b0424785e|title=New recruit Sam Powell-Pepper's power nothing to sneeze at|last=Homfray|first=Reece|date=28 November 2016|work=The Advertiser|publisher=News Corp Australia|accessdate=25 March 2017}} He went to school with Quinton Narkle who is his second cousin. He also attended school with other future AFL players Shai Bolton and Cameron Zurhaar.{{Cite web |last=O'Reilly |first=Jacob |date=2016-11-01 |title=Wesley College sends four to AFL Draft Combine |url=https://westernindependent.com.au/2016/11/01/wesley-college-sends-four-to-afl-draft-combine/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Western Independent |language=en-US}} He played junior football for the Mt Hawthorn Cardinals.[http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/resilience-the-driving-force-behind-sam-powellpeppers-draft-bid/news-story/d71dd6190727eb9efdff1290b9335fbe Resilience the driving force behind Sam Powell-Pepper's draft bid]

In 2016, Powell-Pepper made his senior debut for the East Perth Football Club during round 20 of the 2016 WAFL season going on to play all the remaining games for the year.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wafl.com.au/players/view/6118|title=WAFL - West Australian Football League|website=www.wafl.com.au|access-date=2017-07-18}}

AFL career

Powell-Pepper was drafted by the Port Adelaide Football Club with their second selection and eighteenth overall in the 2016 national draft. He made his AFL debut in Port Adelaide's twenty-eight point win against {{AFL Syd}} in the opening round of the 2017 season at the Sydney Cricket Ground.{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-afl-round-1-sydney-swans-v-port-adelaide/news-story/37cdbcb24ddc8ec122e18e21a2eb9cd1|title=What we learned: Port Adelaide defeats Sydney Swans in Round 1 as Sam Powell-Pepper makes terrific debut|last=Laughton|first=Max|date=25 March 2017|work=Fox Sports (Australia)|publisher=News Corp Australia|accessdate=25 March 2017}} He was named that round's AFL Rising Star nominee after kicking two goals in the match, the first with his first kick in AFL football.{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-03-27/powerful-port-mids-instant-impact-earns-rising-star-nod|title=Powerful Port mid's instant impact earns Rising Star nod|publisher=AFL.com.au|first=Callum|last=Twomey|date=27 March 2017|accessdate=27 March 2017}} In a game against Melbourne, he recorded 17 tackles, beating the club's previous record which was 16.

Statistics

:Statistics are correct to the end of round 24, 2023{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/S/Sam_Powell-Pepper|title=Sam Powell Pepper|publisher=AFL Tables|accessdate=27 August 2017}}