Brad Ebert backs wingman Jared Polec to reject offers from rival clubs to re-sign with the Power

PORT Adelaide veteran Brad Ebert has backed dashing wingman Jared Polec to stay at Alberton while warning his team not to take bottom-placed Carlton lightly at the MCG on Saturday.

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PORT Adelaide veteran Brad Ebert has backed dashing wingman Jared Polec to stay at Alberton while warning his team not to take bottom-placed Carlton lightly at the MCG on Saturday.

Polec is out of contract at the end of the season and reportedly on the radar of cashed-up Victorian clubs St Kilda and North Melbourne.

But Ebert said the South Australian, who was so homesick after he was drafted by Brisbane from SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens at pick five in 2010 that he returned to SA three years later to join Port, would stay.

Jared Polec gets his handpass away in the win against Richmond. Teammate Brad Ebert doesn’t expect him to go anywhere. Picture Sarah Reed

“He’s an important player for us but I’m pretty sure he’ll be all right (to stay),’’ said Ebert.

“Knowing “Polly’ well, he’s an SA boy and came home just over four years ago. I’m sure he’ll stay here.’’

Polec, 25, has enjoyed an outstanding season as the Power has rocketed into flag contention with a strong 9-4 win-loss record.

Out of contract veteran Justin Westhoff, 31, also is out of contract at the end of the season but last week revealed to The Advertiser that he is close to finalising a new one-year deal to stay at the club for a 13th season.

“I’m working through that with the club now and hope to have something done in the next couple of weeks,’’ Westhoff said.

Ebert, meanwhile, has stressed to his teammates to stay switched on against the Blues, despite the home side having won just one game for the year.

The in-form Power is on a roll, having won three consecutive matches, including home wins against premier Richmond and a strong Melbourne team.

But it faces a potential banana skin against a Blues side that will be celebrating veteran defender Kade Simpson’s 300th game.

And Ebert knows any slip-up at this time of the year — when the premiership table is so even — could have serious ramifications on its hopes of a second AFL premiership and first since 2004.

“It will be a good challenge for us and we need to learn from past experiences,’’ Ebert told Triple M.

“Carlton has pipped us a couple of times in recent years and there’s been other games where we slipped up against teams where we shouldn’t have.

“We know as a group that if we are developing and progressing like we want to be then we need to win these types of games.’’

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