PORT ADELAIDE players have donated $5,000 to Australian Red Cross Lifeblood in support of a cause close to the heart of Australian Football great Russell Ebert.

Ebert, who won a record four Magarey Medals and six club best and fairest awards during his incredible playing career, had been a regular blood and plasma donor until he was diagnosed with Acute myeloid leukemia late last year.

A blood drive set up by the Ebert family to donate on his behalf has been incredibly well supported with more than 3,890 lives have been positively impacted by the generosity of the members of “Team Russell”, with more than 400 donors from across the nation now part of the team donating blood and plasma in place of Ebert.

Tuesday’s $5,000 donation is the idea of Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas as part of the AFL Players Care official charity initiative.

“Russell is in a midst of a pretty tough fight. He’s an absolute legend of our club and of Australian football and his legacy goes well beyond what he did on the field,” Jonas explained.

“As part of Russell’s fight, he’s called out for any blood and plasma donations – and that can still be done. You can still sign up as part of Team Russell to help by donating some blood or plasma.

“And through the AFL Players’ Association the Port Adelaide playing group thought it would be a great opportunity to show our respect for Russell and support a cause close to him by donating $5,000 to this cause and support the great work the Australian Red Cross does.”

AFL Players Care was established in 2014 with players contributing $50 of their match fee each week.

Half of that money is then donated to the AFL Players’ official charity partner, Ladder, to help tackle youth homelessness, while the rest is contributed to the AFL Players Care fund which is distributed to clubs so that players can support other charities they are passionate about.

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Regional Partnerships Group Account Manger Leila Pardon was on hand to accept the donation.

“The support of the Port Adelaide Football Club has just been unprecedented,” she said.

“Team Russell was set up in February and they’ve already given over 1,000 blood donations, which makes it the fastest growing Lifeblood team in South Australia’s history.

“We’d like to thank Port Adelaide members and the community for their support so far.

“It really helps us and we’d like to keep encouraging people to roll up their sleeves and donate blood and plasma when they can.

“This ($5000) donation will go towards helping other areas of Lifeblood, like Milk Bank, helping premature babies to receive milk that they need.”

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

Among the 419 donors that make up Team Russell are 35 people who have registered as donors for the first time since the campaign began in February.

While most of the donations have come from South Australia, generous donors in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales have also contributed.

The total number of 1,286 donations have been made so far by Team Russell.

“I think it’s just a testament to the pull that the Port Adelaide Footy Club and the Ebert family have that this campaign has had that sort of traction and created that sort of movement,” Jonas said.

“It’s incredible really and it’s a privilege to be able to help.”

Members and supporters can still donate. Simply 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.