LOXTON LOOMS LARGE

BY PETER ARGENT

Port Adelaide and West Adelaide are ready to jump into it again. The Russell Ebert tribute game is back in Loxton for its second running after being a huge success in its inaugural season.

Port beat West at a bursting Loxton Oval on Sunday, May 22 last year, Magpies skipper Cameron Sutcliffe collecting the trophy from Russell’s wife, Dian, and lifting it triumphantly. With three generations of the Ebert clan watching approvingly from the grandstand, Port drew away from the Bloods with three of the final four goals to win 15.15 to 12.9.

Xavier Duursma earned the Russell Ebert best-on-ground medal. The game is held as a tribute to four-time Magarey Medallist Ebert, Port Adelaide’s games recordholder, with 392. He remained close to his heritage in the Riverland until his passing in November 2021. Ebert’s junior football was played at Loxton Tigers before having a season of senior footy with Waikerie Magpies. These clubs will play in the curtain-raiser to the Port-West clash.

Port Adelaide has a number of lads with a rural heritage who played in the inaugural game celebrating Ebert’s wonderful contribution to SA footy, including Crystal Brook talent Hugh Jackson. The North Adelaide junior, who has been at Alberton for a couple of seasons, said: “Cam (Sutcliffe) let us know before the game last year what a great opportunity the contest was to celebrate Russell’s impact in SA football on and off the field.”

“The crowd was energised and loud, which made it a special day and having a big contingent of the Ebert family there added to the event,” said Jackson, noting winning certainly helped. “Being up at Loxton is developing into a great tradition for us (the Magpies) to reconnect with the Riverland community.

“I loved playing country football back home at ‘the Brook’ in the Mid North and it’s great to see highlevel football in rural locations. I remember watching Port Adelaide playing a community game at Port Pirie a couple of years ago. It was a scorching hot day but it gave me an insight into the athleticism and the strength needed to play football at higher levels. We will take a bus up to Loxton and expect it to be a great contest.”

West, up and about after a stunning win against South Adelaide last week, will make sure of that. The Bloods have their sights on taking the trophy out of Port’s hands.

The first bounce for last year’s Russell Ebert tribute game in Loxton. Photo: Peter Argent

Port Adelaide captain Cameron Sutcliffe with the spoils of victory. Photo: Peter Argent