Cam Sutcliffe sporting the iconic No. 1 guernsey that proudly carries on the legacy of Port Adelaide greats like Russell Ebert. Image: Brandon Hancock.

RUSSELL EBERT was an icon of football and the community so when Cam Sutcliffe walked into Alberton Oval and sat down in the Port Adelaide Football Club administration office in the same pod of desks, the former Fremantle Docker was well aware of who the smiling man opposite him was.

While he never saw him play, he had heard the stories of the speed, leap, smarts and iconic handpass that made Ebert one of the greats of Australian Rules football, not just in South Australia but across the nation.

Ebert quickly became a mentor to Sutcliffe as they worked together on community programs in schools, offering advice around engaging with children and performing well on the football field in equal measure.

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Port Adelaide head to Loxton for Ebert tribute

At that point Sutcliffe had been delisted by Fremantle and remained hopeful that by playing SANFL at Port Adelaide and working at the club an AFL lifeline might emerge.

“When I first came back to Adelaide in 2019, I had definitely heard of Russ but I’d never met him and he became a mentor to me straight away with football stuff but also my work in the community team,” Sutcliffe recalled on Thursday as he prepared to lead the Magpies against West Adelaide in a tribute match in Ebert’s honour.

“To have his mentorship when I first came back from Fremantle was really great. He passed on a lot of things that still drive me and will continue to drive me for many years.

“I think his selfless nature and his positive approach to most things, he always had time for people – even if they weren’t a Port Adelaide supporter.

“To be able to play a game and hopefully honour his legacy is a special opportunity for us.”

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"It's a great opportunity to celebrate Dad's life": Magpies Ebert tribute | PTV

Port Adelaide will honour the late great Russell Ebert with a tribute match in Loxton during the SANFL season.

Ebert - a six-time Port Adelaide best and fairest and winner of a record four Magarey Medals – died of leukemia aged 72 in November.

Born in Berri, Ebert played his junior football at Loxton and senior football for Waikerie before shifting to Alberton.

It is fitting that Port will do battle with West at the redeveloped Loxton Oval on Sunday as part of the SANFL’s Round 7.

Loxton and Waikerie will also play against each other in a curtain raiser from 10:40am.

Among the planned celebratory moments, players from Port and West will observe a minute’s silence, Ebert’s son Ben Ebert will toss the coin and his wife Dian Ebert will hand over a special trophy to the winning captain.

Port is chasing its second win of the season, having enjoyed a week off for the state game.

Hamish Hartlett of the Bloods and Magpies captain Cam Sutcliffe with the trophy that will be presented after the Russell Ebert tribute match in Loxton. Image: Jess Green.

“It’s an important game for our group not only for the two points but to do right by Russ and his family,” Sutcliffe said.

“We know the impact Russ had on Port Adelaide and the community, especially the charity work he did.

“We know what he brought to our game and our club but also the community and his home region in the Riverland in particular.

“It’s really exciting for the community given we haven’t been able to get out there much in recent years so we are looking forward to being there and putting on a show for them.”

The Bloods are winless after six matches but expected to welcome back former Port Adelaide vice-captain Hamish Hartlett from injury

“Similar to us, Westies have had a pretty tough start to the year but we’re looking forward to getting out to Loxton and getting our second win on the board and playing some footy that the Port Adelaide people will be proud of.”

The game at Loxton Oval gets underway at 2:05pm.