Ford Fairlane
Moderator
- Feb 21, 2002
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Russell Ebert was a Port Adelaide champion and the idol of many a young Port supporter through the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Russell played 392 games for Port Adelaide for three premierships and won the Magarey Medal on 4 occasions - 1971, 74, 76 and 80. In his 1976 triumph his domination of the competition was so complete he polled 42 votes with one umpire awarding votes each game (10 x 1st preference, 6 x 2nd preference).
Here's Russell winning the 1976 medal
In his first season of SA league football in 1968 he topped Port's goalkicking filling in at full forward. At 185cm and around 88kg Russell was the size of many a KPP in those days but with the skills and agility of any small rover.
He won Port's best and fairest 6 times, captained and coached the club.
In 1979 he spent a season with North Melbourne, training with Port during the week and travelling to Melbourne to play on weekends. Despite occasional ill-informed comment, Russell (who turned 30 years of age during the 1979 season) had a stellar year with North. In his first and only year at VFL level, Russell played 25 games for North Melbourne, kicked 15 goals, polled 9 Brownlow Medal votes (3rd highest for North that year, behind Gary Dempsey and Ross Glendinning and ahead of North’s recognised VFL stars such as Malcolm Blight, Keith Greig, Stan Alves and Wayne Schimmelbusch), and accumulated 534 possessions for the season back when that was a measure of impact on a game, especially for a player with Russell’s sublime skills. Ron Barassi had no doubt that had Ebert joined the VFL at a younger age he would have been a champion of that competition, just as he was at Port Adelaide. Thankfully, Russell’s commitment was to Port Adelaide.
Mere numbers don't do Russell justice, you really had to see him play to appreciate his unique blend of power and startling skills. In fact, you can! (check out the young Bruce MacAvaney)
Russell played 392 games for Port Adelaide for three premierships and won the Magarey Medal on 4 occasions - 1971, 74, 76 and 80. In his 1976 triumph his domination of the competition was so complete he polled 42 votes with one umpire awarding votes each game (10 x 1st preference, 6 x 2nd preference).
Here's Russell winning the 1976 medal
In his first season of SA league football in 1968 he topped Port's goalkicking filling in at full forward. At 185cm and around 88kg Russell was the size of many a KPP in those days but with the skills and agility of any small rover.
He won Port's best and fairest 6 times, captained and coached the club.
In 1979 he spent a season with North Melbourne, training with Port during the week and travelling to Melbourne to play on weekends. Despite occasional ill-informed comment, Russell (who turned 30 years of age during the 1979 season) had a stellar year with North. In his first and only year at VFL level, Russell played 25 games for North Melbourne, kicked 15 goals, polled 9 Brownlow Medal votes (3rd highest for North that year, behind Gary Dempsey and Ross Glendinning and ahead of North’s recognised VFL stars such as Malcolm Blight, Keith Greig, Stan Alves and Wayne Schimmelbusch), and accumulated 534 possessions for the season back when that was a measure of impact on a game, especially for a player with Russell’s sublime skills. Ron Barassi had no doubt that had Ebert joined the VFL at a younger age he would have been a champion of that competition, just as he was at Port Adelaide. Thankfully, Russell’s commitment was to Port Adelaide.
Mere numbers don't do Russell justice, you really had to see him play to appreciate his unique blend of power and startling skills. In fact, you can! (check out the young Bruce MacAvaney)