BEFORE the national draft Brett Ebert sent a text message to Jackson Mead wishing him well and offering some advice.
As Port Adelaide’s first father-son draft selection, Ebert is well placed to talk about the heightened scrutiny and expectation that comes with being labelled the “son of”.
Picked up in the 2002 draft, Ebert’s recruitment was huge at the time, continuing the legacy of his father Russell, arguably the best player South Australia has ever produced.
The older of the Eberts is a Hall of Famer, four-time Magarey Medallistm six-time Best and Fairest and Premiership captain who played 391 games for Port Adelaide between 1968 and 1985 and also coached the club.
It was a hard act to follow but staying in Adelaide and playing for the club he loved made it a lot easier.
“It was great to stay in my home state and continue living with family and friends so the transition was fantastic compared to someone like a Steven Salopek who had to move after year 11 when he was 17 from Melbourne to Adelaide,” Brett Ebert told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“It was an exciting time and it was great to be able to play with the Magpies as dad did years before and then at the Power.
“Obviously Dad played a lot of games but I think I was only two when he retired so I didn’t see him play. I’ve only seen a couple of videos.”
Ebert finished his AFL career in 2013 having played 166 games and booted 240 goals at AFL level including leading the club’s goal kicking in 2007 with 56 goals.
He also added a fifth Magarey Medal to the collection in the Ebert household with his victory in 2003.
Ebert puts his success down to trying to be his own player, while upholding the values and traditions of his family – advice he offered to the Power’s latest father-son recruits Jackson Mead and Trent Burgoyne.
“I actually sent Jackson Mead a message a week before the draft wishing him the best of luck and telling him I hoped he’d come to Port,” Ebert said.
“I told him to enjoy the experience and appreciate what your dad has done, learn from your dad but try make your own name and be the player you are.
“I said to make your family proud and make the club proud and I think he’ll do that, along with Trent as well who I actually coached in the under 13s at the Magpies so it’s awesome to see him come through.”
Mead is the youngest son of Darren Mead, Port Adelaide’s inaugural John Cahill Medallist, a three-time SANFL premiership player and the only player so far to have played 100 games at both AFL and SANFL level for the club.
Burgoyne is the oldest son of Peter Burgoyne who won premierships at both AFL and SANFL level for Port Adelaide across a 14-year period and a member of the Indigenous team of the century.
Ebert said both Mead and Burgoyne had impressed him with their development and maturity in recent years and he, like many supporters, was excited to have the Mead and Burgoyne names back in the black, white, silver and teal of Port Adelaide.
“I know a lot of the supporters are really excited at having father-son and past players getting involved with the club and a lot of the older supporters can relate to it so it’s a really good thing for the club,” he said.
