fly to Melbourne for the Tuesday training session, fly back to Adelaide, work until the middle of Thursday, fly to Melbourne again, play for North Melbourne in the VFL, and fly back Saturday night. North Melbourne agreed to cover Ebert's large travel costs. |+ ! colspan="2" |1979 Russell Ebert Travel Schedule |- |Tuesday afternoon |Flight to Melbourne |- |Tuesday night |Flight to Adelaide |- |Thursday afternoon |Flight to Melbourne |- |Saturday night |Flight to Adelaide According to Malcolm Blight, when North Melbourne suffered a series of injuries during 1979, Ron Barassi utilised Ebert in a range of different positions. Ebert's tally of twenty-five games for North Melbourne is the VFL/AFL record for the most games in a career in that league that only lasted one season. During his season with North Melbourne Ebert would play alongside Malcolm Blight, Graham Cornes, Keith Greig, Ross Glendinning, Wayne Schimmelbusch, Gary Dempsey and Graham Melrose. Ebert collected the most disposals of any North Melbourne player during 1979. North Melbourne finished second on the ladder and reached the Preliminary Final. After a challenging year balancing his business, family and football commitments Ebert did not consider playing another season with North Melbourne in 1980. Despite this, when Ebert was asked if he was glad he played for North Melbourne he unequivocally answered affirmatively saying "Absolutely...It was one of the most demanding, one of the most exciting and one of the most satisfying years that I can remember." Port Adelaide return (1980–1987) Ebert returned to Port Adelaide as a player for the 1980 SANFL season. From his experiences the previous year playing in the VFL with North Melbourne, Ebert suggested Port Adelaide increase the weight training it required of its players, noting that the Victorian players were more advanced in this facet of the game. During the season Ebert played forward alongside Tim Evans, who that year kicked 144 goals in the SANFL, a record at the time. After a dominant season finishing top of the ladder, Port Adelaide entered the 1980 SANFL Grand Final against Norwood, who finished the minor round fifth, as firm favourites. Norwood provided a strong challenge, leading the match at three quarter time, but Port Adelaide, who lost Tim Evans with an injury during the game, mounted a comeback, winning the premiership decider by 18 points. Ebert also won his record-setting fourth Magarey Medal in 1980, garnering 49 votes from the SANFL's