Port Adelaide midfielder Brad Ebert says Power just ‘have to get the job done’ in Shanghai

“WE’VE got to get the job done!” With those words in-form Port Adelaide midfielder Brad Ebert summed up the players’ attitude to Sunday’s groundbreaking clash against Gold Coast in China.

“WE’VE got to get the job done!”

With those words in-form Port Adelaide midfielder Brad Ebert summed up the players’ attitude to Sunday’s groundbreaking clash against Gold Coast in China.

While the historic match is being played amid much fanfare as the Power takes Australian football to the world, Ebert says the players must narrow their focus to one thing — winning.

“It’s a great and exciting opportunity for our club to make its mark in China but the players

can’t afford to get caught up in all the hype, all the fanfare,’’ Ebert said.

“We’re very excited to be playing in this match but we understand that we’ve got a job to do and that it has to be business as usual for us.

“It’s just another game that we have to win and I’m sure that will be the attitude of the playing group.’’

Port Adelaide’s Brad Ebert gets his kick away from West Coast’s Brad Sheppard. Picture: SARAH REED

Ebert, who on Thursday night was the last of the Power players to fly to China as he spent extra time at home to be with wife Bec and their newborn son Leo, said Port is desperate to avenge last week’s loss to West Coast.

He admitted the Eagles game was “one that got away from us’’ after the Power had 29 more inside 50s but lost by 10 points.

“We’ve looked at areas that we could have done better and it came down to winning more contested ball and better execution inside 50,’’ said Ebert, who is enjoying an outstanding season as an inside midfielder, averaging 27 disposals, five clearances and eight tackles.

Port lost contested possessions — an area it has been so good in this season — by 10 to the Eagles and kicked 12.15 to the WA side’s 15.7.

“When we are playing well we win contested ball and convert our opportunities inside 50 — that’s a pretty good combination,’’ Ebert said.

The Power has lost only once to Gold Coast — their first encounter at Football Park in round five, 2011 by three points — winning all six matches since.

Port Adelaide’s Brad Ebert gets his handpass away from West COast’s Jon Giles. Picture: SARAH REED

But Ebert is wary of the Suns’ form, which saw them upset Geelong last week after earlier wins against Hawthorn and Carlton.

“They’ve been playing some good footy, so it’s definitely going to be a challenge for us,’’ he said.

“They rebound the ball really well from their defensive 50 to attacking 50 which shows you how well they are moving the footy.

“They’ve got some really slick players so restricting their run and ball movement is going to be a focus for us.’’

So is superstar Gary Ablett, who after a quiet start to the season is back to his Brownlow Medal-winning form.

Ebert is uncertain if he will get a stopping job on the midfield dynamo but understands the importance of curbing his matchwinning influence.

“He’s a guy we will put a lot of time and energy into because his class is a real weapon for them and brings other players into the game,’’ he said.

Gary Ablett of the Suns celebrates a goal against the Geelong Cats at Metricon Stadium.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON

1. Gary Ablett. The Gold Coast superstar has overcome early-season criticism of his work ethic to bounce back to his Brownlow Medal-winning best.

Is averaging a team-best 32 disposals in a Suns side that throws the ball around more than any other, averaging an AFL-high 416.1 disposals.

In contrast, the Power ranks 12th in total disposals, averaging 378.3 per game.

2. Former Sun Charlie Dixon is in the form of his career, having averaged 143 SuperCoach points, 21 disposals, 11 marks and 3.5 goals in the past two weeks.

Criticised last year for failing to live up to his whopping $750,000-a-year contract, Dixon is one of the form key forwards of the competition and looms large for his former club.

Dixon, who is second in the AFL for contested marks with 19 (behind West Coast’s Josh Kennedy 22), could face a reunion with powerful former teammate Steven May, who is one of the best key defenders in the business.

3. Don’t expect the China experiment to be a tackle-fest. Gold Coast is the second-worst tackling team in the competition, averaging just 58.7 tackles a game.

Only Fremantle (53.9) is worse. Port also isn’t a strong tackling team, averaging 64.9 — fifth-lowest in the league.

Tom Barrass of the Eagles is challenged by Charlie Dixon of the Power.

4. Port has the 200cm Dixon but Gold Coast has two forward-line beasts of its own in Tom Lynch and Peter Wright.

Lynch, 199cm, is one of the best key forwards in the game while Wright, a man mountain at 203cm and 100kg, is a tough physical match-up who is averaging 14 disposals and six marks.

If Wright gets his radar right — he has kicked 8.9 for the season — he could prove a difference-maker.

5. The Power has had no problem getting the ball into its attacking 50, with its 440 inside 50s being 26 more than next-ranked side Adelaide.

Brad Ebert leads Port in forward 50 entries with 37, followed by Jared Polec (33), Chad Wingard (31) and Ollie Wines (30).

[e-mail]

Originally published as Port Adelaide midfielder Brad Ebert says Power just ‘have to get the job done’ in Shanghai