PORT ADELAIDE will take on West Adelaide in Loxton for SANFL premiership points in a special tribute match to honour the late Russell Ebert.
The game, to be played in Round 7 on Sunday May 22, will see the sides face off at the recently redeveloped Loxton Oval with a trophy on offer for the winning club.
Ebert is a legend of South Australian football as Port Adelaide’s club games record holder. He is a six-time best and fairest and won a record four Magarey Medals.
Born in Berri, Ebert played his junior football at Loxton and senior football for Waikerie before shifting to Alberton.
It is fitting then that Loxton and Waikerie will do battle in a curtain raiser to Port Adelaide’s game against the Bloods.
“Russell Ebert was a man who loved his family, his community and his football club so we are delighted we can be part of a day like this in his honour at Loxton – a place which gave him his start in football and a place he always carried close to his heart,” said Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson.
“Having the Loxton and Waikerie Football Clubs playing before our SANFL match is a fantastic way to bring together the communities that were so special to Russell himself.
“We are grateful to both clubs, the West Adelaide Football Club and the SANFL, as well as the District Council of Loxton and Waikerie for driving this initiative, and look forward to getting up to Loxton in May for what should be a cracking SANFL contest and to celebrate Russell’s immense contribution to our club, the SANFL and the Riverland.”
Ebert’s daughter Tammie Kernich lives in Loxton and is looking forward to the event.
“It’s a great opportunity to be able to celebrate Dad’s life,” she told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“He grew up playing here at Loxton and also played at Waikerie as well and then moving on to Port Adelaide so it’s a great opportunity too to showcase the game but have those teams play here that meant so much to Dad. It’s a real privilege.”
The game is shaping up to be a special one for Port Adelaide captain Cam Sutcliffe, who worked closely with Ebert in the club’s community programs.
He said as well as coming up against former teammate turned Blood Hamish Hartlett, he was looking forward to paying tribute to Ebert.
“Russell’s legacy is really clear to us,” Sutcliffe said. “He was from this area and he spent so much time here.
“He was so important to this area as well as to us at Port Adelaide so we’re really lucky to have the opportunity along with West Adelaide to come and play a game in his honour and hopefully put on a great show for the local people.
“We’re really excited to get back out to the regions. We haven’t had much of an opportunity in the last couple of years due to COVID so to get footy back out to these areas and get people involved is a really special opportunity and one we’re really looking forward to.”
Hartlett said he hoped the game would help showcase the region and be a fitting tribute to Ebert.
“For me personally having been involved in both clubs in recent times is an added bit of significance and excitement around the event,” Hartlett explained.
“It’ll be sure to draw plenty of people to watch the game. It’ll be a great contest I’m sure and I’m looking forward to coming up against some of the old teammates.
“I’d been at (Port Adelaide) and working with Russ in that period just showed me how humble he was even though he had experienced so much success on the field as a football player. He was always willing to give back to the community where he possibly could, he was a great personality around the footy club in terms of his sense of humour and always wanting to help people as well.
“Certainly, a lot can be modelled off the type of person that he was.”
The Riverland is part of West Adelaide’s development zone and a key breeding ground for a lot of SANFL and AFL talent.
The rest of the SANFL fixture is expected to be released this week.
SANFL Round 7
West Adelaide v Port Adelaide
Sunday May 22, 2022 – 2:10pm
Loxton Oval
