Brad Ebert struggled with injury in 2019, was touch and go for Port Adelaide’s Round 1 game but is now back to his damaging best for the Power

Brad Ebert suffered from injury in 2019, and then looked to be in an upward struggle to secure a spot in Port Adelaide’s senior side during pre-season. But now the Power veteran is back to his best.

Ebert celebrating a goal in his 250th game against West Coast. (Photo by Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

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A lot in the footy world has changed since pre-season.

The AFL season has been paused and resumed, crowds have been barred at most games, quarters were shortened, now every Victorian team faces playing interstate for the rest of the season.

And after some serious questions were raised about whether he had a place in Port Adelaide’s best 22 Brad Ebert is back to his dangerous best for the Power.

Concussion symptoms that lingered longer than expected and then a PCL injury cruelled Ebert’s 2019 for a club in which his name is worshipped.

But in Port’s pre-season it seemed as if the glut of promising talent at the Power would squeeze the former vice-captain out of the senior side.

He played in the Under 23 trial game against Adelaide at Thebarton Oval at the request of coaches, still wearing a helmet and then only was called upon for a half in the Power’s final pre-season game against the Western Bulldogs in Whyalla.

Ebert against the Bulldogs in Whyalla. (Photo by Matt Turner/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

On the eve of the season the 30-year-old himself conceded he was in a struggle for one of the last spots in Port’s team.

“I guess so yeah, I guess it is never really a lock,” he said on Triple M.

“It is hard for a senior player to hear … but I’ll keep fighting for my spot.”

Just before the AFL put a freeze on new contracts Port announced extensions for Travis Boak and Robbie Gray.

As for Ebert, talks were put on hold to wait for him to get some football under his belt.

But luck struck twice for Ebert.

First Charlie Dixon’s adductor niggle suffered in that game at Whyalla gave him a spot in the senior side for Round 1 against Gold Coast and he took that chance with both hands finishing with 20 disposals, six tackles and a goal.

Ebert then suffered another knee injury in that match against the Suns but the suspension of the AFL season meant it did not cost him any games.

“For the most part of my career I’ve been pretty lucky in that I haven’t missed too many games,” Ebert said ahead of his 250th game against West Coast.

When Ebert returned from the enforced break the helmet he had worn since suffering that concussion was gone.

“I wore it last year coming back, it was probably more giving me a little bit more confidence in coming back to contact,” he said.

“Then in the pre-season I started with it again and it was really that similar thought process but after having 10 weeks off I was really clear in where I was that, felt confident and comfortable without it.”

Ebert suffered another knee injury in Round 1 but did not miss any matches because of it. (AAP Image/Darren England)

And his form has been back at the levels it was in 2017 and 2018.

In 2020 he is averaging 16.6 disposals a game, 10.8 uncontested possessions and six marks to go along with 109 ranking points.

Champion Data ranks this as all elite for a general forward, while Ebert’s 5.4 score involvements and a goal a game are considered to be above average.

Last year when Ebert was first moved to the forward line, senior assistant coach Michael Voss said he could shine in that deeper role.

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“If you look at some of the characteristics he brings, he marks the ball overhead strongly and when the ball hits the deck he covers the ground really, really well,’’ Voss said.

“It’s not a fun place to play at times, the forward line, because you are asked to run up the field, run back down the field, chase and tackle, try to kick a goal.”

For reasons out of his control it has taken Ebert slightly longer than anticipated but he is again showing his class.

Originally published as Brad Ebert struggled with injury in 2019, was touch and go for Port Adelaide’s Round 1 game but is now back to his damaging best for the Power