THE RIVERLAND was abuzz on Sunday as Port Adelaide and West Adelaide ventured to Loxton for a SANFL clash in honour of football great Russell Ebert.
A legend of the Port Adelaide Football Club and of the game in general, Ebert passed away from cancer in November.
The four-time Magarey Medallist and three-time premiership player remains Port Adelaide’s club games record holder and won a record six club best and fairest awards.
Loukas Founten reflects on a special occasion for the club.
Bathed in sunlight, Loxton turned it on for our club’s visit on Sunday. Players arrived after a three-hour bus trip, weary but eager to check out the recently redeveloped facility that includes a grandstand, changerooms, function facilities and indoor sporting arena. A small stop in Waikerie provided some respite from the lengthy stint on the team bus. As the first bounce neared, the car parks in the centre of the town’s main street started to fill as pedestrians made their way to the main event. The Loxton Football Club may have been the home of the Tigers in their yellow and black but for the day West’s red and black took pride of place in what was a home game for the Bloods.
The Ebert name is synonymous with the Riverland. Russell Ebert was born in Berri, played junior football with Loxton and senior footy with Waikerie. It was fitting then that Loxton and Waikerie did battle in a curtain-raiser on Sunday morning as part of the celebrations. Under the watchful gaze of about 30 members of the extended Ebert family including Russell’s brothers, wife, daughter and one of his sons, the Tigers took the points on their home deck with a 24-point win – potentially a sign of things to come… but more on that later. There was also good representation from the Port Adelaide faithful with droves arriving dressed in black and white to take in the carnival atmosphere.
After Port Adelaide’s players had a chance to loosen up on the vast expanse of the Loxton Oval, coach Matthew Lokan called the group together in the changeroom to offer his final pre-match address. A friend of the Ebert family, having gone to school with Russell’s son Brett, Lokan was well placed to address the significance of the occasion, telling his group Russell Ebert was a “massive part of the club” and representing him “was a huge occasion for the club”. “Don’t play any different for Russ,” he told the group. “Just be hard and tough but know he’d be up there wanting you to win.” Brett – unable to be at the ground due to illness – sent a video message. “150 years have gone into the guernseys you’re wearing today. So many players you’re representing, including my Dad, Lokes and Myself so have a real decent crack. I know Dad would be watching from above, loving every minute.” Brett said he expected his dad to be smiling seeing his beloved Magpies in the Riverland. Lokan had also asked Brett’s cousin – Russell’s nephew – Brad Ebert into the rooms to talk to the group. He spoke of his uncle’s humility and care for the community. “To be able to come up here and play in Ebert heartland… there’s Ebert’s left, right and centre and I haven’t even met half of them, they’re everywhere… but the Loxton Footy Club, the Waikerie Footy Club and Port Adelaide, along with his family were the most important things in (Russ’s) life.”
There were more touching scenes as players from both sides lined the grandstand side wing and paused for a moment’s silence along the edge of the centre square. The previously jovial crowd stood in silence in honour of one of the absolute greats of the game, and a man highly regarded amongst the South Australian community for his work with charities, in schools and with people in need. Between the Port and West players stood the six umpires and two goal umpires dressed in bright pink, and to their side three of Ebert’s grandchildren, including teenage grandson Albert wearing his grandfather’s iconic number 7 prison bar guernsey. Albert would then toss the coin, won by Port skipper Cam Sutcliffe.
As the game got underway, Lokan took his place in a makeshift coaches’ box, at the top tier of the grandstand. A trestle table with bar stools would do the job. To his immediate right was the Channel 7 commentary team, made up of Mark Sodestrom, Rhett Biglands, Tyson Edwards and a man very familiar with Port Adelaide and the Ebert family, Tim Ginever. To the right of the commentary position was another coaching set-up with West boss Brad Gotsch and his assistants. Behind this set-up, a function for key corporates and community members raged on inside. At least the glass French doors were closed to give the coaches and callers some space. Inside the opening minutes Port Adelaide seized control and Lokan might have relaxed just slightly as tall forwards Charlie Dixon and Ollie Lord booted mirror image long set shot goals. When ruckman Dante Visentini marked and goaled not long after West looked in trouble.
West would respond after Port defenders Sam Skinner and Jackson Lee limped from the ground with head and knee injuries respectively but Dylan Williams and Charlie Dixon hit the scoreboard with four and three goals each to calm the nerves, and after some nervy closing stages as a breeze picked up and clouds stretched overhead, it would be Port claiming a 24-point win.
Ebert’s wife Dian and son Ben would present the Russell Ebert Tribute Match trophy… well at least Magpies skipper Cam Sutcliffe eventually got hold of it after a minor delay and some phone calls to work out where it was. Thankfully West Adelaide CEO Conny Wilson had it safely in her car and was able to retrieve it and run it onto the field for the presentation. “It’s an enormous honour to play in Russ’s legacy tribute game. We know how much he did for the community, especially for Port Adelaide and the Riverland so we’re really thankful for that,” Sutcliffe said, going on to thank the council, partners and West Adelaide side for each contributing to the occasion.
Xavier Duursma, wearing the number seven guernsey made famous by Ebert, fittingly won the Russell Ebert medal as best on ground. The 21-year-old had 28 disposals and two goals and claimed the medal despite some other strong performers in the Magpies’ line-up. “It means a lot. I obviously get the honour of wearing the number seven guernsey but to win this award means a lot because Russ was just such an amazing person and an important person for our club,” he said.
As the sun set over Loxton and hundreds took to the oval for a kick and catch, children swarmed around the Port Adelaide changerooms, waiting for a glimpse of their heroes. Charlie Dixon was perhaps the most popular but he patiently signed autographs and took photo after photo, staying well into the twilight as his teammates made their way onto the bus for the three-hour trek home.
