IT was one of Brad Ebert’s more enjoyable days on a football field and it just happened to coincide with a win over his former team in his 250th AFL game.
Ebert booted two goals – including the game sealer – from 13 disposals and threw in five tackles for good measure as Port Adelaide ran out 48-point winners over West Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The 30-year-old played 76 games for the Eagles before coming home to Port Adelaide and said he planned to celebrate his milestone and the win with his teammates before moving on to the Round 5 encounter with Brisbane.
“It’s good to be able to stop and enjoy a moment like this and have a few beers with the guys,” he told portadelaidefc.com.au on Saturday night.
“I’ve got my wife and family, and kids up here so to be able to stop and thank them for everything as well.
“When you get to 250 games it probably gives you a chance to reflect a bit and appreciate some of the times you’ve enjoyed.
“It then moves on to Brisbane and we’ve just got to make sure we’re doing what we’re doing up here.
“I think the boys have adjusted really well to the whole hub life and I think that then flows into the way they’re performing.
“We’ll reflect on it, we’ll review it and then we’ll turn up and get ready to go.”
Port endured a high intensity, high pressure opening from the Eagles but managed to open up a 27-point half time lead.
The Perth side then came out firing after the main break, booting three goals to close to within eleven points.
Ebert said to win and win well from there was a sign of the side’s resilience.
“We knew West Coast were going to come at us but we were able to just get it done there in the end so it was great fun,” he said.
“I thought there was a really good resilience point. We were able to just weather the storm, we knew they were a good side and were going to come so we were able to weather that and go back at them when the opportunity was there.
“I thought the backs were really strong in being able to hold their own and take a bit of composure and find some options and then we were able to get back to that exciting footy that we play.”
As much as he enjoyed the side’s defensive performance, Ebert reserved special praise for forward Charlie Dixon, who put in a best on ground shift with six goals, 15 disposals and seven strong marks.
“What is there not to like from the big fella – he was unstoppable,” Ebert said.
“He kicked six in the end, so that’s a handy takeaway.
“He was just clunking everything, he was fierce in the contest and there was nothing in the air that he either wasn’t taking or bringing to ground so I thought he was awesome.”
Port remain in its Gold Coast hub for another week and will next travel to Brisbane to face the Lions at the Gabba on Saturday night.
