JOHN McCarthy’s great friend and team-mate Brad Ebert has paid the late Port Adelaide player an emotional tribute on behalf of the Power playing group, coaches and football department staff.
Speaking in a recorded video message played at a public memorial service at Alberton Oval coinciding with McCarthy’s funeral , Ebert said the man known as ‘J-Mac’ would never be forgotten.
“John, although you may be gone mate you’ll never be forgotten,” Ebert said of McCarthy who died aged 22 after falling in Las Vegas.
“Your memories and the fun times we shared will be forever in our hearts and your legacy will live on forever.”
Ebert attended McCarthy’s funeral in his home town of Sorrento, Victoria, with the rest of the Port Adelaide playing group, coaches and football department staff. - was close to his lost team-mate, with both arriving at Alberton ahead of the 2012 season.
“From the moment John walked in the door, you knew that he was going to be a great guy,” said Ebert, who shared a debut victory for Port Adelaide with McCarthy against St Kilda in Round 1.
“He was amazing to be around and he’s made some amazing friends in the short time that he was at the club.
“He was a guy that you felt instantly comfortable with. You were able to talk about anything and he’d give you experiences back.”
McCarthy was hugely popular among his team-mates, having been brought to Port Adelaide via the 2012 Pre-season Draft (Pick no. 8) after four seasons at Collingwood.
“Although it was only 10 months to a year, speaking to the guys it was like he’d been here for 10 years,” Ebert said.
“Just the way he came in and embraced the Port Adelaide way. He got around the team. He was fantastic.”
Ebert said the former Magpie’s positive nature and personality were often on show, but beyond his smile he was as dedicated to football and the club as anyone.
“He was a very easy going guy and that’s what made him so likeable, but when it came to football he was desperate to succeed and desperate for this team to improve,” Ebert said.
“On the track, he was amazing. He’d work so hard before and after training, and he set a new standard for the team.”
Ebert also paid tribute to McCarthy’s partner, Dani Smarrelli, who also relocated from Melbourne to Adelaide.
“When we got John, we also got Dani and both of them embraced the club amazingly well,” Ebert said.
“They were great people to be around and I loved spending every minute with them.”
Ebert said the playing group had been strengthened by supporters whose own grief he acknowledged.
“We really appreciate all the support from the fans,” Ebert said.
“It’s been amazing the past couple of weeks to see the shrine out the front (at Alberton Oval) and all the messages and the comments left.
“It is amazing to see how much he touched so many people in such a short amount of time, but that was just how he was.”
Ebert’s video address was met by applause from the 2000 supporters who gathered on Alberton Oval and in the grandstands to join in the memorial service and also to observe a video feed of the funeral from Sorrento.
