Riverland football great Russell Ebert during his playing days with Port Adelaide. PHOTO: SANFL
RIVERLAND football legend and Port Adelaide Football Club great Russell Ebert died on Friday, aged 72.
The Alawoona native, who played more than 400 games in his remarkable football career, passed away following an almost year-long battle with myeloid leukemia.
Recruited by Port Adelaide from the Loxton Football Club in 1968, Ebert played 391 league games for the Magpies, becoming the only player to win four Magarey Medals as the competition's best and fairest player.
Ebert also won six club best and fairest awards while at Port Adelaide, captained the side from 1974 to 1978 and from 1983 to 1985, and won three premierships in 1977, 1980 and 1981.
Late last month, Ebert was elevated to Legend status in the South Australian Sport Hall of Fame, joining only Sir Donald Bradman, Bart Cummings, Barrie Robran, Victor Richardson, Gillian Rolton and Anna Meares.
Ebert was also well-known for his charity work, including helping create Novita's Mighty River Run.
