confirmed that he returned to Melbourne, after South Australia played Victoria in that state earlier in the year, to meet Carlton officials but that nothing came of it, saying, "I haven't heard from Carlton since I went over after the State game. It was during this year that Ebert won his first Magarey Medal, awarded to the fairest and most brilliant player in the SANFL, receiving 21 votes from the league umpires, one more vote than runner up Peter Marker and Phil Haughan, who both received 20 votes each. In 1971 Ebert was also awarded his first Port Adelaide best and fairest. Port Adelaide reached the 1971 SANFL Grand Final but lost to minor premiers North Adelaide by 20 points. In 1972 Port Adelaide again reached the SANFL Grand Final and again lost to North Adelaide, this time by 56 points. North Adelaide went on to win the 1972 Championship of Australia defeating Carlton. At the end of the season Ebert was awarded his second club best and fairest. For the 1973 SANFL season Port Adelaide finished the minor round fourth. On 8 September 1973 the club faced fifth place Norwood, at Norwood Oval, in the Elimination Final. Norwood won the match by 36 points in what was Fos Williams's last outing as coach of Port Adelaide. Twenty-six years later Fos Williams said that Ebert was the best player he had seen play for Port Adelaide and that "it was my privilege to coach him". At the conclusion of the 1973 SANFL season, Alan Schwab from Richmond and Ron Joseph from North Melbourne both made approaches to Ebert offering him contracts to play for their respective clubs in the VFL. Footscray and Melbourne also made approaches regarding acquiring Ebert around this time. Port Adelaide captain (1974–1978) For the 1974 SANFL season John Cahill took over as Port Adelaide coach from Fos Williams, and one of his first actions was to appoint Ebert as club captain. During the 1974 pre-season Port Adelaide defeated South Melbourne on Alberton Oval by 10 points. During the season at a Port Adelaide fundraiser at Alberton Oval titled 'Build Local Players', Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was present and congratulated Ebert on his season to that point. Ebert won the 1974 Magarey Medal, his second, in front of runner-up Rick Davies of Sturt. Port Adelaide lost the 1974 SANFL Preliminary Final to Glenelg by 49 points