play for the Australian cricket team for the upcoming Ashes series. The absence of Freeman provided Ebert the opportunity, as an 18-year-old, to claim the full-forward position in the team. Ebert made his debut in the first round of the 1968 SANFL season against Glenelg on Alberton Oval. Ebert remained in Waikerie during 1968, driving back and forth between the Riverland and Adelaide for training and match day. During that season Ebert kicked six goals in a game against both North Adelaide and Sturt. He played all but one senior game for Port Adelaide in his first season. In his first season of league football Ebert benefited from experienced Port Adelaide premiership players such as John Cahill, Trevor Obst, Peter Obst, Ronald Elleway and Eric Freeman after his return from playing test cricket in England. In Ebert's first season with Port Adelaide the club qualified for the 1968 SANFL Grand Final against Sturt, reigning premiers for the past two seasons. Sturt won the match by 27 points. At the end of year Ebert was the recipient of Port Adelaide's leading goal-kicker award in his debut season after kicking 44 goals. He was also awarded the club's best first year player award. In 1969 Ebert moved from the forward line to the centre and consolidated the position as his own in the Port Adelaide line up. It was during the 1969 SANFL season that members of Port Adelaide's golden era were retiring from football en masse, resulting in Fos Williams providing league debuts to 15 first-year players. As a result of this influx of junior players the club finished sixth, winning 9 of 20 games. In 1970 Ebert was selected for the South Australian state football team for the first time. Port Adelaide finished the 1970 SANFL season as minor premiers for the first time since the club won the 1965 SANFL Grand Final. They would lose both finals to eventual 1970 SANFL Grand Finalists Glenelg and Sturt, the latter recording their fifth straight premiership. At the end of the season, Port Adelaide recognised Ebert as the club's best player during their finals series. During the 1971 pre-season Port Adelaide defeated South Melbourne in a trial match in Victoria. On 26 June 1971 the publication Inside Football reported that Carlton had approached Port Adelaide with the intention of freeing Ebert from his contract to play for them in the VFL. Ebert