You don’t need to be a Port Adelaide supporter – which I am – to grieve over the passing of a great South Australian footballer.
Port Adelaide veteran and football great Russell Ebert has died from leukemia at the age of 72.
The Port Adelaide Football Club released a statement this evening.
“The Port Adelaide Football Club on behalf of the Ebert family sadly advises that club legend Russell Ebert passed away peacefully this afternoon after a battle with leukemia,” the statement said.
“The four-time Magarey Medallist and member of the Port Adelaide Football Club and Australian Football Hall of Fame passed away at home surrounded by his family.”
“The club asks that the Ebert family’s privacy is respected at this time and thanks everyone on the family’s behalf for the love and support it has received in recent months.”
Ebert played a club-record 392 games for the Magpies in the SANFL between 1968 and 1985, with a season at North Melbourne in the VFL in 1979.
He won three premierships and six best and fairest awards at Port Adelaide.
A member of the Australian and SANFL Football Halls of Fame, just last month he was the seventh person added to the SA Sport Hall of Fame.
Ebert is also immortalised in a statue outside Adelaide Oval.