Editing Russell Ebert (section)

=== Port Adelaide (1968–1978) ===
[[File:Fos Williams, 1953.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Fos Williams]] (pictured) was Ebert's first league coach. Williams said that Ebert "was the most skilful of the Port Adelaide players who came under my control".<ref name="Rucci, Michelangelo 1999 p. 293">Rucci, Michelangelo; Williams, Fos (1999). ''Dynasty: A Legend, A Family and the Port Adelaide Football Club''. Norwood, South Australia: Peacock Publications. p.&nbsp;293. {{ISBN|1876087269}}.</ref>]]
In 1968, [[Eric Freeman (cricketer)|Eric Freeman]], Port Adelaide's [[full-forward]], was selected to play for the [[Australia national cricket team|Australian cricket team]] for the [[Australian cricket team in England in 1968|upcoming Ashes series]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Hudson|first=Jack|date=4 July 2020|title=How Russell Ebert became Port's greatest player|url=https://www.theinnersanctum.com.au/how-russell-ebert-became-ports-greatest/|website=theinnersanctum.com.au}}</ref> The absence of Freeman provided Ebert the opportunity, as an 18-year-old, to claim the full-forward position in the team.<ref name=":1" /> Ebert made his debut in the first round of the [[1968 SANFL season]] against [[Glenelg Football Club|Glenelg]] on [[Alberton Oval]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|last=Rucci|first=Michaelangelo|date=6 November 2021|title=Russell Ebert: A life in football|work=portadelaidefc.com.au|url=https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/1029449/russell-ebert-a-life-in-football|access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref> Ebert remained in [[Waikerie, South Australia|Waikerie]] during 1968, driving back and forth between the [[Riverland]] and Adelaide for training and match day.<ref name=":30">{{Cite news|last=Schwerdt|first=Mark|date=16 September 2020|title=1971 SANFL Mobil Cards – Part 5: Port Adelaide|work=Footy Almanac|url=https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/1971-sanfl-mobil-cards-part-5-port-adelaide/|access-date=26 January 2022}}</ref> During that season, Ebert kicked six goals in a game against both North Adelaide and Sturt.<ref>{{Cite news|date=28 September 1968|title=Three Recruits Stood Out|page=2|work=South Australian Football Budget}}</ref> He played all but one senior game for Port Adelaide in his first season.<ref>{{Cite book|last=McLean|first=Allan Robert Charles|title=100 Years With The Magpies: The Story of the Port Adelaide Football Club 1870–1970|publisher=Letterpress|year=1971|location=Adelaide|pages=133|language=English}}</ref> In his first season of league football, Ebert benefited from experienced Port Adelaide premiership players such as [[John Cahill (footballer)|John Cahill]], [[Trevor Obst]], [[Peter Obst]], [[Ronald Elleway]] and [[Eric Freeman (cricketer)|Eric Freeman]] after his return from playing test cricket in England.<ref name=":6" /> In Ebert's first season with Port Adelaide the club qualified for the [[1968 SANFL Grand Final]] against Sturt, reigning premiers for the past two seasons.<ref>Rucci, Michelangelo; Williams, Fos (1999). ''Dynasty: A Legend, A Family and the Port Adelaide Football Club''. Norwood, South Australia: Peacock Publications. p.&nbsp;148. {{ISBN|1876087269}}.</ref> Sturt won the match by 27 points. At the end of year Ebert was the recipient of Port Adelaide's leading goal-kicker award in his debut season after kicking 44 goals.<ref name=":1"/> He was also awarded the club's best first year player award.<ref>Wood, John (1991). ''Bound For Glory: The Story of the Port Adelaide Football Club 1939–1990''. Largs Bay, South Australia: Largs Bay Printers. p. 116. {{ISBN|0959316213}}.</ref>

In 1969, Ebert moved from the forward line to the centre and consolidated the position as his own in the Port Adelaide line up.<ref name=":13" /> It was during the [[1969 SANFL season]] that members of Port Adelaide's golden era were retiring from football en masse, resulting in [[Fos Williams]] providing league debuts to 15 first-year players.<ref name=":26">Wood, John (1982). ''Gentleman Jack: The Johnny Cahill Story 1958–82''. Plympton, South Australia: John and Wendy Wood. p. 44. {{ISBN|0959316205}}.</ref> As a result of this influx of junior players the club finished sixth, winning 9 of 20 games.<ref name=":26">Wood, John (1982). ''Gentleman Jack: The Johnny Cahill Story 1958–82''. Plympton, South Australia: John and Wendy Wood. p. 44. {{ISBN|0959316205}}.</ref>

In 1970, Ebert was selected for the [[South Australian state football team]] for the first time.<ref name=":2" /> Port Adelaide finished the [[1970 SANFL season]] as [[Minor premiership|minor premiers]] for the first time since the club won the [[1965 SANFL Grand Final]]. They would lose both finals to eventual [[1970 SANFL Grand Final]]ists Glenelg and Sturt, the latter recording their fifth straight premiership. At the end of the season, Port Adelaide recognised Ebert as the club's best player during their finals series.<ref>Wood, John (1991). ''Bound For Glory: The Story of the Port Adelaide Football Club 1939–1990''. Largs Bay, South Australia: Largs Bay Printers. p. 124. {{ISBN|0959316213}}.</ref>

During the 1971 pre-season, Port Adelaide defeated [[Sydney Swans|South Melbourne]] in a trial match in Victoria.<ref>Wood, John (1982). ''Gentleman Jack: The Johnny Cahill Story 1958–82''. Plympton, South Australia: John and Wendy Wood. p. 46. {{ISBN|0959316205}}.</ref> On 26 June 1971 the publication ''Inside Football'' reported that Carlton had approached Port Adelaide with the intention of freeing Ebert from his contract to play for them in the VFL.<ref>{{Cite news|date=26 June 1971|title=Ebert will cost $50,000|volume=1|page=1|work=Inside Football|issue=13}}</ref> Ebert confirmed that he returned to Melbourne, after South Australia played Victoria in that state earlier in the year, to meet Carlton officials but that nothing came of it, saying, "I haven't heard from Carlton since I went over after the State game.<ref>{{Cite news|date=4 September 1971|title=Ebert: Now he's worth plenty|volume=1|page=1|work=Inside Football|issue=23}}</ref> It was during this year that Ebert won his first [[Magarey Medal]], awarded to the [[best and fairest|fairest and most brilliant]] player in the SANFL, receiving 21 votes from the league umpires, one more vote than runner up [[Peter Marker]] and Phil Haughan, who both received 20 votes each.<ref name=":30" /> In 1971 Ebert was also awarded his first Port Adelaide best and fairest.<ref>Wood, John (1982). ''Gentleman Jack: The Johnny Cahill Story 1958–82''. Plympton, South Australia: John and Wendy Wood. p. 47. {{ISBN|0959316205}}.</ref> Port Adelaide reached the [[1971 SANFL Grand Final]] but lost to minor premiers North Adelaide by 20 points.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schwerdt |first=Mark |date=16 May 2019 |title=1971 SANFL Grand Final – North Adelaide v Port Adelaide: Swampies Outfoxed |url=https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/1971-sanfl-grand-final-north-adelaide-v-port-adelaide-swampies-outfoxed/ |access-date=19 August 2022 |website=The Footy Almanac}}</ref>

In 1972, Port Adelaide again reached the SANFL Grand Final and again lost to North Adelaide, this time by 56 points.<ref name=":20" /> North Adelaide went on to win the [[1972 Championship of Australia]] defeating [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]]. At the end of the season Ebert was awarded his second club best and fairest.<ref name=":20">Wood, John (1991). ''Bound For Glory: The Story of the Port Adelaide Football Club 1939–1990''. Largs Bay, South Australia: Largs Bay Printers. p. 136. {{ISBN|0959316213}}.</ref>

For the [[1973 SANFL season]], Port Adelaide finished the minor round fourth. On 8 September 1973, the club faced fifth place Norwood, at Norwood Oval, in the Elimination Final.<ref name=":22">{{Cite book|last1=Rucci|first1=Michelangelo|title=Dynasty: A Legend, A Family and the Port Adelaide Football Club|last2=Williams|first2=Fos|publisher=Peacock Publications|year=1999|isbn=1876087269|location=Norwood, South Australia|pages=153|language=English}}</ref> Norwood won the match by 36 points in what was Fos Williams's last outing as coach of Port Adelaide.<ref name=":22" /> Twenty-six years later [[Fos Williams]] said that Ebert was the best player he had seen play for Port Adelaide and that "it was my privilege to coach him".<ref name="Rucci, Michelangelo 1999 p. 293"/> At the conclusion of the 1973 SANFL season, Alan Schwab from [[Richmond Football Club|Richmond]] and Ron Joseph from [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]] both made approaches to Ebert offering him contracts to play for their respective clubs in the VFL.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/video/826083/open-mike-russell-ebert-and-darren-cahill-ptv|title=Open Mike: Russell Ebert and Darren Cahill PTV|date=14 October 2020|people=Mike Sheahan, Russell Ebert|type=|language=English|publisher=portadelaidefc.com.au|trans-title=Mike Sheahan speaks with Russell Ebert and Darren Cahill about Port Adelaide's 150th year. Footage thanks to Fox Footy.|location=Australia|time=00:06:48|access-date=28 January 2022|format=|id=|isbn=|oclc=|quote=}}</ref> Footscray and Melbourne also made approaches regarding acquiring Ebert around this time.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 1974|title=Russell Ebert: Footballer of the Year|volume=4|page=1|work=Magpie News|issue=5}}</ref>

==== Port Adelaide captain (1974–1978) ====
For the [[1974 SANFL season]], [[John Cahill (footballer)|John Cahill]] took over as Port Adelaide coach from Fos Williams, and one of his first actions was to appoint Ebert as club captain.<ref name=":13">{{Cite news|last=Schwerdt|first=Mark|date=7 November 2021|title=Almanac Football Obituary: Russell Ebert – Legend|work=footyalmanac.com.au|url=https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/almanac-football-obituary-russell-ebert-legend/|access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref> During the 1974 pre-season Port Adelaide defeated South Melbourne on Alberton Oval by 10 points.<ref>Wood, John (1982). ''Gentleman Jack: The Johnny Cahill Story 1958–82''. Plympton, South Australia: John and Wendy Wood. p. 71. {{ISBN|0959316205}}.</ref> During the season at a Port Adelaide fundraiser at Alberton Oval titled 'Build Local Players', [[Prime Minister of Australia|Australian Prime Minister]] [[Gough Whitlam]] was present and congratulated Ebert on his season to that point.<ref name=":36" /> Ebert won the 1974 Magarey Medal, his second, in front of runner-up [[Rick Davies (footballer)|Rick Davies]] of Sturt.<ref>{{cite news|date=11 September 1974|title=Medal|volume=49|page=26|newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]]|issue=13,857|location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136984693|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=23 January 2022}}</ref> Port Adelaide lost the 1974 SANFL Preliminary Final to Glenelg by 49 points with Ebert's summation published in the ''[[Sunday Mail (Adelaide)|Sunday Mail]]'' being "Disappointed...what else can I say?".<ref>Wood, John (1982). ''Gentleman Jack: The Johnny Cahill Story 1958–82''. Plympton, South Australia: John and Wendy Wood. p. 73. {{ISBN|0959316205}}.</ref>

In 1975, Ebert captained the South Australian state team for the first time.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rucci|first=Michelangelo|date=5 November 2021|title=Russell Ebert|work=sanfl.com.au|url=https://sanfl.com.au/league/news/vale-russell-ebert/|access-date=24 January 2022}}</ref> Port Adelaide finished the minor round of the [[1975 SANFL season]] in fourth place. Ebert was best on ground in Port Adelaide's 30-point win over North Adelaide in the First Elimination Final, collecting 42 disposals and 1 goal.<ref name=":27">Wood, John (1982). ''Gentleman Jack: The Johnny Cahill Story 1958–82''. Plympton, South Australia: John and Wendy Wood. p. 74. {{ISBN|0959316205}}.</ref> The following week Port Adelaide comfortably beat [[1974 SANFL Grand Final|reigning premiers]] Sturt by 67 points in the First Semi Final.<ref name=":27" /> Port Adelaide lost the Preliminary Final to Norwood by 30 points despite leading at the end of the third quarter by 6 points.<ref name=":36">Wood, John (1982). ''Gentleman Jack: The Johnny Cahill Story 1958–82''. Plympton, South Australia: John and Wendy Wood. p. 75. {{ISBN|0959316205}}.</ref>

Port Adelaide finished the [[1976 SANFL season]] as minor premiers, two and a half wins ahead of second placed Sturt.<ref name=":29">Wood, John (1982). ''Gentleman Jack: The Johnny Cahill Story 1958–82''. Plympton, South Australia: John and Wendy Wood. p. 81. {{ISBN|0959316205}}.</ref> Ebert was selected as captain and centre in ''[[The News (Adelaide)|The News]]'' '1976 Team of the Year'.<ref name=":29" /> That year Ebert won his third Magarey Medal by a record margin of 17 votes over runner-up [[Barry Norsworthy]] of Central District.<ref name=":10">{{cite news|date=9 September 1976|title=Triple medallist|volume=51|page=26|newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]]|issue=14,479|location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110825043|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=23 January 2022}}</ref> With 42 votes he became the sixth SANFL player to become a triple Magarey medallist.<ref name=":10" /> In the lead up to the 1976 Magarey Medal, Ebert noted that he would rather win the premiership than have another Magarey Medal.<ref>Wood, John (1991). ''Bound For Glory: The Story of the Port Adelaide Football Club 1939–1990''. Largs Bay, South Australia: Largs Bay Printers. p. 149. {{ISBN|0959316213}}.</ref> In an interview with [[Alan Shiell]], Ebert stated that "It's a big thrill to win the medal but its still an individual award".<ref>Wood, John (1982). ''Gentleman Jack: The Johnny Cahill Story 1958–82''. Plympton, South Australia: John and Wendy Wood. p. 82. {{ISBN|0959316205}}.</ref> Port Adelaide qualified for the [[1976 SANFL Grand Final]] after defeating Glenelg by 43 points in the Second Semi Final. That years SANFL Grand Final sold a state record 66,987 tickets.<ref name=":28">{{Cite book|last=Norton|first=Daniel|title=Port Adelaide Football Club - 2013 Season Guide.|publisher=Bowden Group|year=2013|location=Adelaide|pages=28}}</ref> When the SANFL ran out of tickets they opened [[Football Park]]'s gates for free and the crowd grew by an estimated 15,000.<ref name=":28" /> The gates were shut by police 90 minutes before the bounce as spectators were being crushed. Subsequently, the police allowed thousands of spectators onto the field to sit along the fence to prevent any further physical injuries.<ref name=":28" /> In Ebert's fourth attempt at winning an SANFL Grand Final, he and his club were unsuccessful, with Sturt defeating Port Adelaide by 41 points. During an interview with Mike Sheehan on [[Open Mike (TV series)|''Open Mike'']] regarding the loss of the 1976 SANFL Grand Final, in the context of Port Adelaide having now lost its last four Grand Finals, Ebert noted that he started to question "whether I was to blame" for the club's failure to win a premiership.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/video/826083/open-mike-russell-ebert-and-darren-cahill-ptv|title=Open Mike: Russell Ebert and Darren Cahill PTV|date=14 October 2020|people=Mike Sheahan, Russell Ebert|type=|language=English|publisher=portadelaidefc.com.au|trans-title=Mike Sheahan speaks with Russell Ebert and Darren Cahill about Port Adelaide's 150th year. Footage thanks to Fox Footy.|location=Australia|time=00:01:50|access-date=28 January 2022|format=|id=|isbn=|oclc=|quote=}}</ref>

After two seasons where Port Adelaide was forced to play games away from Alberton Oval, the club returned to playing SANFL games at its traditional venue in front of record crowds, including an attendance of 22,738 against Norwood on 11 June 1977.<ref>Wood, John (1991). ''Bound For Glory: The Story of the Port Adelaide Football Club 1939–1990''. Largs Bay, South Australia: Largs Bay Printers. p. 153. {{ISBN|0959316213}}.</ref> Ebert won his first premiership as a player as Port Adelaide broke its 12-year drought, defeating Glenelg at Football Park in the [[1977 SANFL Grand Final]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Agius|first1=Matthew|last2=Norton|first2=Daniel|date=30 August 2013|title=Footy Park Flashbacks #4: 1977 SANFL Grand Final|work=portadelaidefc.com.au|url=https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/727553/footy-park-flashbacks-4-1977-sanfl-grand-final|access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref> Before the presentation of the [[Thomas Seymour Hill#Recognition|Thomas Seymour Hill Trophy]], thousands of spectators stormed the ground.<ref name=":35">{{Cite news|last=Ebert|first=Russell|date=19 August 2013|title=40 years of dominance: Russell remembers 1977|work=portadelaidefc.com.au|url=https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/10057/40-years-of-dominance-russell-remembers-1977|access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref> When Ebert recalled this moment he noted that "[i]t was quite dangerous to have close to ten thousand people just stampede onto the oval into a really confined space. We just looked for our teammates and got into the huddle...Everyone just wanted to get out there and be a part of it".<ref name=":35"/> Ebert kept only one guernsey from his playing career, the one he wore in the 1977 premiership decider.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bryant|first=Daniel|date=5 July 2007|title=The jumper Russell Ebert never let go|work=afl.com.au|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/51954/the-jumper-russell-ebert-never-let-go|access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref> Ebert was awarded SANFL life membership during the [[1977 SANFL season]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=16 April 1977|title=Membership For 4|pages=10–11|work=SA Football Budget}}</ref> 
{{blockquote|'It has taken us a bloody long time but by gee it was worth it!'|Russell Ebert during the post game award presentations of the [[1977 SANFL Grand Final]].<ref>Russell Ebert, [[1977 SANFL Grand Final]] – Port Adelaide vs. Glenelg.</ref>}}Following the success of Port Adelaide's 1977 premiership, the club, led by Ebert, finished fourth during the minor round of the [[1978 SANFL season]], qualifying for finals. Ebert finished runner up by one vote in the 1978 Magarey Medal count to [[Kym Hodgeman]] of Glenelg.<ref>{{cite news|date=13 September 1978|title=Magarey Medal|volume=53|page=48|newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]]|issue=15,697|location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110908981|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=27 January 2022}}</ref> Port Adelaide comfortably beat West Torrens in the Elimination Final. The club then faced Glenelg, 1977 runners-up, in the First Semi Final.<ref name=":11">{{cite news|date=17 September 1978|title=SANFL Powerful finish by Port Adelaide|volume=53|page=20|newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]]|issue=15,701|location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110909862|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=23 January 2022}}</ref> Glenelg were in control of the game for the first three quarters but a "gutsy" effort by Ebert in the midfield helped Port Adelaide win the match and qualify for the Preliminary Final against Norwood.<ref name=":11"/>