ON countless occasions when Port Adelaide needed a hero to step up and take the game by the scruff of the neck it was Russell Ebert putting in the hard work to deliver a result.

Now the Port Adelaide Football Club, in tandem with the Ebert family, will be rolling up the sleeves to return the favour.

The passion Ebert showed on the field during his playing days at Alberton is perhaps only rivalled by his love of the wider Port Adelaide community, in particular as a generous blood donor, regularly attending his local Lifeblood Donor Centre to donate vital blood and plasma for those in need.

One in three Australians will need blood or blood products in their lifetime and one blood donation can save up to three lives, while donated plasma is used to make 18 different life-giving treatments.

34 per cent of the 1.5 million blood donations collected yearly go towards treating people with cancer and blood diseases like Leukaemia, which is something that is directly affecting the Ebert family right now.

Unfortunately, Russell’s recent diagnosis with Acute myeloid leukaemia means he is no longer eligible to donate blood.

This is where Port Adelaide and the Ebert family are calling on the club’s members and supporters to roll up their sleeves at their local Lifeblood Donor Centre and give blood or plasma to Team Russell and continue to support a cause close to Russell’s heart while he cannot.

Port Adelaide Chief Executive Officer Matthew Richardson said it was a cause that the football club was proud to throw its support behind.

“When the Ebert family reached out to us with the idea to set up Team Russell we knew immediately it was something we wanted to support as a club and community,” Mr Richardson said.

“In typical Russell fashion, no matter the circumstances, his mind goes immediately to how he can help others.

“So, while he focuses on attacking his treatment with his typical determination we encourage all our members and supporters to take up the baton and donate blood on Russell’s behalf.”

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood spokesperson Jennifer Salter said every donation counts.

“Australia needs 31,000 donations every week to meet the needs of patients,” she said.

“We always need new donors to roll up their sleeves and are grateful to the Ebert family and the Port Adelaide Football Club for their generosity and support. This will help to save lives.”

Lifeblood needs both blood and plasma donors.

“Plasma is a powerful and versatile component of our blood. In addition to treating trauma and bleeding, it’s also used to make life-saving medicine for patients with immunodeficiency and auto-immune diseases, cancer, haemophilia, kidney conditions and burns.”

Members and supporters can click here to register as a blood donor and join Team Russell.

If you are aged between 18-75 years and are feeling well click here to check your eligibility to donate blood or plasma.

To book time to donate please call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au or download the Donate Blood app.