Editing Russell Ebert (section)

==== Port Adelaide captain-coach (1983–1985) ====
In his first season as captain-coach of Port Adelaide Ebert would start the [[1983 SANFL season]] without the club's star [[Centre half-back|centre-half back]] [[Greg Phillips]], who had joined John Cahill at Collingwood.<ref name=":4" /> On 16 May 1983 at Football Park, Ebert captained South Australia for the third time, in what was the states first win over [[Victoria Australian rules football team|Victoria]] since 1965.<ref>{{cite news|date=17 May 1983|title=AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL SA ends Victoria's run|volume=57|page=18|newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]]|issue=17,397|location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131844370|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=23 January 2022}}</ref>

On 23 June 1984 in a game against West Torrens at Football Park Ebert broke the SANFL record for most games played in that competition, surpassing [[Paul Bagshaw]]'s tally of 360 games.<ref>{{cite news|date=24 June 1984|title=Game record|volume=58|page=27|newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]]|issue=17,801|location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127004964|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=17 January 2022}}</ref> In 1984 Port Adelaide reached its only Grand Final with Ebert as coach. Port Adelaide's opponent in the [[1984 SANFL Grand Final]] was Norwood who finished the minor round in fifth position.<ref>{{cite news|date=30 September 1984|title=S.A.N.F.L. Magpies gamble on grand final line-up|volume=59|page=6 (SPORT)|newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]]|issue=17,899|location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136919142|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=23 January 2022}}</ref> In front of 50,271 spectators Port Adelaide relinquished a 3-point lead at the final change of the [[1984 SANFL Grand Final]] to eventually lose to Norwood by 9 points. During 1984 Ebert was presented with the Adidas Golden Boot award by [[Ted Whitten]].<ref name=":8">Wood, John (1985). ''Russell Ebert Australian Record''. South Australia: Port Adelaide Football Club. p.&nbsp;18.</ref>  At the time Ebert was only the fifth Australian recipient of the award.<ref name=":8">Wood, John (1985). ''Russell Ebert Australian Record''. South Australia: Port Adelaide Football Club. p.&nbsp;18.</ref>

Ebert retired as a player at the end of 1985 for Port Adelaide, where his 392 games remains a club record. In 2020 Ebert joked about the longevity of his career, noting that "I guess when you are captain-coach you can pick yourself!".<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=00:08:46|access-date=28 January 2022|format=|id=|isbn=|oclc=|quote=}}</ref>