Editing Russell Ebert (section)

===North Melbourne (1979)===
On 22 January 1979 Ebert spoke to [[Bob McLean (Australian footballer)|Bob McLean]], Port Adelaide's general manager, informing him of his intention to play with [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]] for the [[1979 VFL season]].<ref name=":9">{{Cite news|last1=Shiell|first1=Alan|last2=Swinstead|first2=Julian|date=22 January 1979|title=Ebert Quits|page=1|work=The News}}</ref> In response McLean tabled to Ebert the largest contract offer in the history of the Port Adelaide Football Club but Ebert declined.<ref name=":9"/> Many [[Victorian Football League (1897–1989)|Victorian Football League]] clubs had chased Ebert for a decade until North Melbourne finally won his signature.<ref name="sheahan">[[Mike Sheahan|Sheahan, M]], "$50,000 – Roos price for Ebert", ''[[The Age]]'', 19 February 1979, p. 18.</ref> Port Adelaide agreed to lease Ebert to North Melbourne for the 1979 season in exchange for [[Mark Dawson (footballer)|Mark Dawson]], as well as paying Ebert $35,000.<ref name="sheahan" /> In response to Ebert moving from the SANFL to the VFL, the former league's president Max Basheer lamented that "[f]rom a state and club viewpoint we cannot afford to lose players of this calibre".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Schwartz|first=Gordon|date=23 January 1979|title=Concern at exodus of footballers|page=Sport|work=The Advertiser}}</ref> During 1979 Ebert continued to operate his business, a sports store, in Adelaide.<ref name=":16">{{Cite news|last=Rucci|first=Michaelangelo|date=5 November 2021|title=Remembering Russell Ebert: greatness on the field and well beyond|work=indaily.com.au|url=https://indaily.com.au/sport/football/2021/11/05/sa-football-great-russell-ebert-dies/|access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref> Ebert would fly to Melbourne for the Tuesday training session, fly back to Adelaide, work until the middle of Thursday, fly to Melbourne again, play for North Melbourne in the VFL, and fly back Saturday night.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":30" /> North Melbourne agreed to cover Ebert's large travel costs.<ref name="sheahan" /> 
{{S-start}}
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! colspan="2" |1979 Russell Ebert Travel Schedule<ref name=":1" /><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=00:06:12|access-date=28 January 2022|format=|id=|isbn=|oclc=|quote=}}</ref>
|-
|Tuesday afternoon
|Flight to Melbourne
|-
|Tuesday night
|Flight to Adelaide
|-
|Thursday afternoon
|Flight to Melbourne
|-
|Saturday night
|Flight to Adelaide
{{S-end}}
{{blockquote|'I think he was the first [[fly-in fly-out]] footballer because he came across from South Australia, Port Adelaide, and played just the one season. He flew in on a Thursday night and would fly home on a Sunday. Marvellous year at the club, played all 25 games, 15 goals, had the most possessions of anyone at the club in that time.'|[[Ross Glendinning]] describing Ebert's year at North Melbourne in 1979.<ref>{{Citation|title=Remembering Russell, a 7NEWS special: Celebrating football legend Russell Ebert's life {{!}} 7NEWS| date=7 November 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSrnLBe9Og4|language=en|access-date=2021-11-08}}</ref>}}

[[File:Malcolm Blight statue Adelaide Oval.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Ebert joined fellow South Australian [[Malcolm Blight]] at [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]] for the [[1979 VFL season]].]]

According to [[Malcolm Blight]], when North Melbourne suffered a series of injuries during 1979, Ron Barassi utilised Ebert in a range of different positions.<ref name=":18">{{Cite news|last=Rucci|first=Michelangelo|date=6 November 2021|title=Football pays tribute to Russell Ebert|work=portadelaidefc.com.au|url=https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/1029493/football-pays-tribute-to-russell-ebert|access-date=23 January 2022}}</ref> Ebert's tally of twenty-five games for North Melbourne is the VFL/AFL record for the most games in a career in that league that only lasted one season.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rodgers|first=Stephen|title=100 Years of AFL Players – Volume 3|year=1996|publisher=East-Side Printing|location=Melbourne|isbn=0646300164|page=1586}}</ref> During his season with North Melbourne Ebert would play alongside [[Malcolm Blight]], [[Graham Cornes]], [[Keith Greig]], [[Ross Glendinning]], [[Wayne Schimmelbusch]], [[Gary Dempsey (Australian footballer)|Gary Dempsey]] and [[Graham Melrose]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/1979.html#12|title=AFL Tables - 1979 Stats - Player Lists|website=afltables.com|access-date=2017-07-02}}</ref> Ebert collected the most disposals of any North Melbourne player during 1979.<ref name=":5a">{{Cite news|last=Slevison|first=Andrew|date=November 2021|title=How Ebert pulled off one "Remarkable" season with North Melbourne|work=sen.com.au|url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/11/08/how-ebert-pulled-off-one-remarkable-season-with-north-melbourne/|access-date=18 January 2022}}</ref> North Melbourne finished second on the ladder and reached the Preliminary Final.<ref name=":5a" />

{{blockquote|'Russell was a pleasure to coach. His input both physically and mentally was excellent. He never whinged or moaned about sore spots and trained and played with them which is what a coach admires. Russell thought about his footy and gave it all he had.'|[[Ron Barassi]], coach of Ebert during the [[1979 VFL season]].<ref>Wood, John (1985). Russell Ebert Australian Record. South Australia: Port Adelaide Football Club. p. 10.</ref>}}After a challenging year balancing his business, family and football commitments Ebert did not consider playing another season with North Melbourne in 1980.<ref name=":1" /> Despite this, when Ebert was asked if he was glad he played for North Melbourne he unequivocally answered affirmatively saying "Absolutely...It was one of the most demanding, one of the most exciting and one of the most satisfying years that I can remember."<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=00:04:20|access-date=28 January 2022|format=|id=|isbn=|oclc=|quote=}}</ref>