Xavier Duursma collected the Russell Ebert Medal after a strong performance against West Adelaide. Image: Brandon Hancock.

PORT ADELAIDE coach Matthew Lokan has said it was fitting that Xavier Duursma collected the Russell Ebert Medal as best on ground in the win over West Adelaide on Sunday in Loxton.

Duursma amassed 28 disposals, booted two goals and seven inside 50s in the 24-point victory over the Bloods.

Australian football great Ebert passed away from cancer in November with the game played in his honour in a town where he played some football prior to his Port Adelaide days.

Ebert is best remembered as a champion in his number 7 guernsey, and Lokan said it was fitting that another number seven in Duursma paid tribute to him with his performance.

“He won the medal, but I thought we had a really even contribution from a lot of our guys,” Lokan said.

“Xavier was really good. I thought Taj Schofield played one of the best games he's played for us with 31 disposals, Sam Mayes had 32.

Xavier Duursma had a day out in Loxton, recording 28 disposals and two goals. Image: Brandon Hancock.

“We got plenty of the ball especially through that middle part of the ground and then Dylan Williams and Charlie Dixon were able to hit the scoreboard.

“We were a little bit inaccurate in front of goal, but sometimes that happens.”

Port set the tone early but the Bloods fought back to be within two goals in the last quarter before Lokan’s side kicked away to win 15.15 (105) to 12.9 (81) and be awarded a trophy case in Ebert’s honour.

“They were able to get their game going on the outside,” he said.

“I think their strength is their ability to be able to run and get the ball forward into some space and they were able to do that and we weren't able to slow them down.

“Credit to our boys that we were able to hold on the end.

“It was a pretty tough day for our guys being two short.”

Dylan Williams celebrates a goal with Dante Visentini and Jackson Mead. Image: Brandon Hancock.

Lokan paid tribute to his side for making do for much of the game without defenders Sam Skinner and Jackson Lee, who went down early with injury.

He explained that Skinner’s head knock would be assessed to determine if he had suffered a concussion while Lee hurt his knee and he hoped it was not a serious injury.

“We lost two players early in the game in the second quarter, so the boys had to dig deep,” Lokan said.

“We obviously started really well, but as soon as we lost a couple of guys, we had to really dig deep and play big minutes in the second half and good to get a good win.”

In positive news, star forward Charlie Dixon got through unscathed and booted three goals as he continues to push his claims for a first AFL game for the season following two rounds of ankle surgery.

The day was a celebration of the life of Ebert with his family involved in several tributes, including his grandson Albert tossing the coin and being involved in a minute’s silence, and his wife Dian and son Ben awarding the trophy to the Magpies at the conclusion of the game.

In a tribute to the late Russell Ebert, grandson Albert tossed the coin at the start of the match. Image: Brandon Hancock.

“The whole day to be able to honour Russell up here in the Riverland has been a really special occasion,” he said.

“We had a beautiful photo after the game with Russell's wife Dian and Ben, his son, and to be able to get the Russell Ebert Cup and Xavier wearing number seven to be able to get the medal was very fitting on a day like this.

“Russell's a champion of not only our football club, but Australian Rules football and it was great to be able to honour him in a small way today.”

The win was the second of the season for the Magpies, who now sit eighth on the ladder, two wins outside the top five and a game against second placed North Adelaide at Alberton on Saturday.