AUSTRALIAN football has lifted its pedestal for Russell Ebert. He has risen to Legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame. Officially, Ebert has the ultimate recognition that the greatest judges - the fans, and not just at Port Adelaide - carried in their hearts long ago.
For the third time in less than nine months, we reflect on Russell Ebert's time in Australian football. We mourned and cherished the memories that flashed before us on his death and a State funeral at Alberton at the end of last year. We celebrated his rise to the legend pedestal among all sports at the SA Sports Hall of Fame earlier this year. And now the Australian Football Hall of Fame ...
In this time, Ebert's legacy has emerged as much more than just his achievements in Australian football and at the Port Adelaide Football Club.
Echoing from all the tributes of the past year is the undeniable image of a great humanitarian.
The legacy goes beyond his trademark overhead handball, the victory speech in collecting the 1977 SANFL centenary premiership, the club record 392 SANFL senior games and those unrivalled four Magarey Medals and record six club best-and-fairest titles ...
As much as "It took a bloody long time, but by geez it's worth it" - the unforgettable line from that 1977 grand final triumph at Football Park - is the repeatedly quoted, there is now a treasured line from Ebert's repertoire that has much more relevance in remembering how the great man was more than a champion footballer.
"What you walk past is what you accept," Ebert would often say.
It is a statement about setting standards in football. It is a philosophy about life. Ebert brought together both when he returned to the Port Adelaide Football Club to manage its community programs that enhanced the lifestyles of future generations.
Ebert preferred to stop and help rather than walk past counting his personal blessings. Great man.
The Australian Football Hall of Fame selection panel has recognised a great footballer. By its charter, they acknowledge Ebert had a "particularly significant positive impact on the game of Australian football."
From Waikerie and Loxton in the Riverland to Port Adelaide, Woodville, the SANFL, the media and back to Port Adelaide, Ebert's six decades in high-profile football left a legendary chapter in the game's story.
As South Australia's first official Hall of Fame Legend, Barrie Robran, writes in the foreword to the soon-to-be-released book from the Ebert family:
"As a footballer, Russell Ebert was inspiring. He was brilliant. He was explosive. He was extremely fair, as noted by his record-breaking four Magarey Medals. He was a champion of his sport.
"As a team-mate, Russell set the example for doing what is best for all. Team always first.
"As a man, Russell was more than a role model as a footballer - he was a great man to model life on. He was more than a champion in football - he was a champion of humanity. He was sincere, polite, honest - and extremely giving of himself. He was a man everyone could - and should - aspire to follow. He was very caring for others."
For the past nine months, the tributes penned and spoken of Russell Ebert recognise - as now acknowledged by the Australian Football Hall of Fame - the legendary status of Port Adelaide's greatest footballer since the club's start in 1870. But there is so much more to the Ebert legend, as noted by Robran recognising a "champion of humanity ... a great man to model life on."
In football, Ebert became the ultimate role model inspiring thousands of would-be league footballers. If only inspiration was enough to become a champion. Ebert never took his blessing for granted - he worked harder and harder to become better and great.
In life, Ebert was the exemplary role model with a way many of us should feel inspired to be as caring and as giving to those who are less fortunate than us. And no-one needs to be perfectly balanced on both feet, strong of body and mind and powerful in stamina as Ebert was on the football field to be a good human on the street.
"What you walk past is what you accept."
This is a mantra that says so much of Ebert the man, more so than the champion footballer.
In approaching his death by cancer, Ebert left for the future generations of Port Adelaide footballers - male and female - themes they should carry to training every day and to every football game they play in the club's colours.
"It's just a matter of hard work. The more you put in, the more you'll get out of the game.
"Work as hard as you can.
"Do whatever the coach instructs you to do, whether you think it's right or wrong. In the coach's mind, it is right for you and the team."
These inspiring words of wisdom should find their way into every player locker at Alberton Oval and Adelaide Oval. They sit perfectly alongside the ethos of The Creed written for Port Adelaide in 1962 by another of the club's legends, Fos Williams.
They speak of never taking anything for granted.
They tell of the essence of team sport - sacrificing self-ambition to embrace the team goals.
They are part of the Ebert legacy - and legend - at the Port Adelaide Football Club.
They form the foundation for never-ending success at Alberton.
Ebert is now the fourth South Australian "Legend" in the Australian Football Hall of Fame following Robran, Malcolm Blight and Jack Oatey. He is the second "Legend" with a Port Adelaide resume, following Haydn Bunton senior.
But he is much more than what the Hall of Fame charter demands of its legends who changed the game of Australian football for the better. Ebert sought to change our lives and our society for the better. This is why he remains a great man still capable of doing much good in football - and in life.
Ebert, more than a legend in Australian football.
