TOPIC:

Just reading possibly SANFL's greatest ever player Russell Ebert has passed away sadly

One of the best below the knee players and a superb disposal by hand or foot you would ever see

Knew he was gravely ill but still a shock

big loss to footy

Gee he was a very gifted footballer.  And too young to leave this world.

Uncle to recently retired Port Adelaide and WCE midfielder Brad Ebert.

Did Russell play for North Melbourne in the VFL? Or was it Carlton?

DD wrote:

Uncle to recently retired Port Adelaide and WCE midfielder Brad Ebert.

Did Russell play for North Melbourne in the VFL? Or was it Carlton?
 

Went to Norths.  Bit like Brian Peake, went over to Pricko very late in his career. Still showed a bit of his talent then carried on at Port Adelaide the next year.

Russell played 1 season in the VFL in 1979.In one of his games for the roos he broke a VFL record for possession in a match ,42.With his overhead mark, running in straight lines+ground level skills.Would of been a superstar in the VFL .
Russell's heart was in SA with the prison bars Magpies.And returned back to Port in 1980.Like a lot of players of Russell era,became a staunch opponent of the expanded VFL competition.
Russell retired in 1984 after 391 games,4 Margery Medals,6 Port Adelaide premierships+3'All Australian selections.
Coached Port Adelaide 1985 +87 where he developed a young group of players.That John Kahill took to a premiership hat-trick 1988+90.
In Russells one VFL season with North Melbourne in 1979.Polled 12 Brownlow votes 3 by 3,and one two and one vote.
Russell also didn't train with North Melbourne.He was a fifo,flew in on Friday night and flew back Saturday night.And kept training with Port Adelaide.He ran a successful sports store in Adelaide.

An absolute legend of the game and revered in SA as their best ever player, sadly gone at 72 to leukemia.

Had a feeling he was in trouble a month ago when this picture was published. The treatment wasnt kind to him. That is North Adelaide champion Barrie Robran on the left and some bloke called Bruce on the right.

DD wrote:

Uncle to recently retired Port Adelaide and WCE midfielder Brad Ebert.

Did Russell play for North Melbourne in the VFL? Or was it Carlton?

Yes Brad forged a solid career with Port Power but I thought Russells son Brett was a more talented footballer who also played a lot of footy for the Power. A famous footy family.

Following the SA Black & Whites from afar as a kid in the 1980s and Port Adelaide seemingly always in the SANFL GFs back then which were televised on the ABC this bloke was an absolute champion in a team full of superstars (Ebert x 2,Williams x 3, Bradley, Evans, Phillips, Abernethy, Johnston, James, Hynes, Cahill, Giles, Granger, Cunningham, Clifford, Curtis, Faletic, Hofner, Russell, Hodges etc).

His son Brett Ebert was a gun at Port Adelaide in both the SANFL & afl as well.

the best from SA I've seen a real bloody good all round player