Ebert - speaking publicly for the first time since being traded from West Coast - says the opportunity to play at the Power along side cousin Brett was a major factor in deciding he wanted to leave Perth.
“It’s exciting. Obviously we’ve been pretty close … he’s been like an older brother really so it’s going to be great to run onto the field together and play some footy,” Ebert said.
21-year-old Brad joined Brett and other four-year-plus players for medical and fitness testing, beginning pre-season a week after their one-to-three-year team mates hit the track.
Ebert concedes it was difficult telling West Coast coach John Worsfold he wanted to be traded, but says he has no doubts about his decision or declaring Port Adelaide his club of choice.
“It really came down to family reasons in the end,” he said.
“Obviously it was a tough decision for me seeing West Coast are such a strong club. But it really just came down to the fact that I wanted to be back around family and friends and being a part of Port Adelaide all my life it was an easy decision to come back to Port Adelaide and continue on what my family has sort of created, I guess.”
Ebert was recruited by West Coast from Port Adelaide as a 17 year-old, having played under-age, reserves and five SANFL league games with the Magpies.
Taken in the first round (No. 13 overall) in the 2007 National Draft, he returns to Alberton and Port Adelaide’s AFL outfit having played 76 times in four seasons with the Eagles, including all but three games in 2011.
His move home extends one of the best-known family bonds at Port Adelaide, with his father Craig playing 112 games with the Magpies and uncle, Russell (Brett’s father), playing a club-record 392 games and winning an unprecedented four Magarey Medals.
Brad says the Power should have hope that it can improve on the 2011 season in which it finished 16th, pointing to West Coast’s journey from wooden-spooners in 2010.
“We went from being a team that was struggling for a few years to being able to rebuild,” he said.
“I guess that just came down to working as a team. It really did. I guess that’s one of the biggest things I learnt is that you really need to be able to trust your team mates and have a real team focus and that’s when it really started to click.
“Obviously Port did have a difficult season but you can see how quickly things can turn around and … it’ll be exciting to play with a new bunch of guys. Watching from afar they do look like there’s a promising good list there and I’m excited about going forward.”
Brad hopes to join the mid-field with the Power, continuing a role he has played throughout most of his career.
“That’s the area that I’ve always tried to play and I think that’s what Port were needing so it worked out really well for both parties. So hopefully that’s where I’ll hopefully play most of my footy here.”
Brett is delighted to be preparing to play with his cousin for the first time.
“There a fair few years between us, but I still remember coming out here for Brad’s first game for the Maggies and really being a part of his life, almost like an older brother to him,” Ebert said.
“I never got to play with my older brother, so to play with my cousin is just great.”
Brett is even hopeful of sharing the midfield with Brad, along with other on-ball contenders.
“That’d be great. There’s a long pre-season to go and a lot of fitness to get up but I think we could have a dozen of us running through there at any time of the game. That’s really what we want this year and the pre-season is going to be based around that.”
Brett - who played his first AFL game in 2004 - re-committed to Port Adelaide late in 2011, signing a new contract.
“I love the club and Dad’s obviously been a pretty big part of it and knowing Brad was pretty keen to come back … I really wanted to stay here and try to get us a few wins this year,” he said.
“I’ve got a lot of mates here and we’ve played together for eight or nine years.”
Brett is also looking forward to a full pre-season having been restricted in his preparation for 2011 while recovering from knee surgery before being struck by illness.
“It’s a massive thing. Mentally it’s pretty hard to come of probably doing a month of pre-season go out there and run around with guys who have been going for three or four months,” he said.
“I really need to work on my fitness and I’ve got three or four months. I just need to get my fitness up and my confidence and I’m looking forward to playing some trial games as well not just sort of start off with the Maggies and then straight into the AFL.”
Ebert played 12 games for the Power in 2011, ending the season on a high by kicking three goals in his 150th milestone match against Melbourne at Adelaide Oval.
