RUSSELL EBERT
Born at Berri, June 22, 1949.
Played 392 SANFL league games with Port Adelaide (1968-1978 and 1979-1985), 25 VFL league games with North Melbourne (1979) and 29 State games for South Australia (1970-1983).
Coached Port Adelaide, 1983-1987; Woodville, 1988-1990; South Australia at both senior (1996-1998) and junior level (1991-1999).
Achievements: Magarey Medallist, 1971, 1974, 1976 and 1980; Port Adelaide premiership player, 1977, 1980 and 1981; Port Adelaide best-and-fairest, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1981); Port Adelaide leading goalkicker, 1968; Port Adelaide captain, 1974-1978 and 1983-1985); South Australian State team captain, 1975, 1977 and 1983.
Honours: Australian Football Hall of Fame, South Australian Football Hall of Fame; Port Adelaide's greatest team of 1870-2000 as the centreman; Legend status in South Australian Sport Hall of Fame
MEMORABLE YEARS AT ALBERTON
1968: Made his league debut aged 18 in opening round against Glenelg at Alberton Oval on April 13. Finished the season as Port Adelaide's leading goalkicker (44) and in starting 18 of grand final line-up that lost to Sturt at Adelaide Oval.
1970: Earned the first of his 29 South Australian State jumpers.
1971: Won his first of a record four Magarey Medals, polling 21 votes. Claimed the first of his record six best-and-fairest titles at Port Adelaide.
1972: Played his 100th SANFL league game (v Woodville in round 17) and scored his 100th league goal.
1974: Won his second Magarey Medal, polling 28 votes. Succeeded John Cahill as club captain.
1975: Captained the South Australian State team for the first time, at the Australian carnival in the semi-final against Tasmania at VFL Park in June and final against Victoria at Football Park in July.
1976: Won his third Magarey Medal, polling 42 votes.
1977: Captained Port Adelaide to the drought-breaking (then a club record 12 years) premiership with the memorable acceptance speech: "It has taken us a bloody long time, but geez it's worth it." Reached 200-game milestone in SANFL (v Norwood in round 2).
1979: Moved to VFL club North Melbourne, playing all 25 games - including three finals - as a fly-in, fly-out player. Transfer cost North Melbourne $35,000 and Mark Dawson.
1980: Won the record fourth Magarey Medal, polling 49 votes with both umpires awarding votes. Returned to No.7 jumper. Rewrote club record for games played by passing John Cahill's 264-match mark (v West Torrens in round 17). Reached 300-game milestone in senior football with Port Adelaide, North Melbourne and South Australia.
1981: Won inaugural Jack Oatey Medal as best-afield in SANFL grand final against Glenelg.
1982: Played 300th senior game for Port Adelaide (v Carlton in Escort Cup at Waverley Park).
1983: Became Port Adelaide's first captain-coach since Geof Motley in 1961.
1984: Guided Port Adelaide to the grand final against Norwood - the last SANFL playing coach to achieve this feat.
1985: Retired from league football rewriting the club record for games played at 392.
1987: Final season as Port Adelaide league coach, compiling a career record of 64 wins and 52 losses from 116 league games.
