It was only an exhibition match but Port Adelaide’s Brad Ebert could not stop his raw emotions from surfacing in south London.
Understandably so, following a difficult couple of months since the death of his best mate John McCarthy on an end-of-season trip to Las Vegas.
After kicking the winning goal against the Western Bulldogs in Port’s 14.4 (88) to 13.9 (87) win from 50m out on the boundary line with 40 seconds remaining, Ebert kissed the black tape on his arm and looked to the skies to salute his former teammate.
“There are a lot of emotions going through the last few months and obviously Dani, John’s girlfriend was here tonight and over the last year we have got on really well,” Ebert said.
“He was my best mate and so it was great to be able to kick that goal and even though it was only an exhibition match, it was really nice to be able to do that.
“I had to give it a bit, just give him a salute.”
The passing of McCarthy, who also played for Collingwood, had pained ex-West Coast player Ebert after the pair formed a strong bond since arriving at Alberton Oval from different clubs 12 months ago.
“We will always have J-Mac’s memory with us,” he said.
“We will be able to move on and while it still will hurt for a long time, we will be able to use that on the footy field.”
Ebert believed the pre-season trip to Europe, that included a stop in Milan, had been vital for the players making a fresh start following a horrible 2012.
“Just get to know the young blokes and a few of the coaches and start building,” he said.
“For me personally, I got a few good weeks before the camps to be able to come away with my girlfriend and catch up with a few mates over here and get away from everything that was happening in town.”
Ebert said players and their partners had persuaded McCarthy’s girlfriend Dani Smarrelli, who had to be comforted post-match at The Oval, to make the trip to the UK.
“She was initially going to come over with John and after everything that happened she was going to cancel it but the flights were already booked,” Ebert said.
“We just sort of said ‘why don’t you come across’.
“It was nice for her to get away as well otherwise she would have just been stuck in Melbourne … and not been able to get over here and get around the girls and try to have a bit of fun. I think it has been good for her.”
With both teams far from full strength, the Bulldogs opened up a six-goal lead in the third quarter before the Power responded with nine unanswered majors in front of a crowd of nearly 10,000 on a cold, clear night.
The ‘Dogs reclaimed the lead before Ebert sealed the win with a beautiful kick from a tight angle.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Too true, sadly.
clipper
Guest
TC - sometimes the truth hurts. I do think Brewski went a bit far - not all of the lower socio-economic spectrum fit that description - many are honest hard working folk, but like any demographic, a minority give the majority a bad name. It's funny that the league fans use a crowd of 4.000 in Canada or Lebanon as an example of how league is expanding, then make fun of a crowd of 10,000 when it's an AFL match. The truth is it shows you can usually get a crowd for a one off match with ex pats and a few interested locals - and what's wrong with that.
TC
Guest
Floyd you've probably come to realise that the AFL tab on the Roar is like beacon to League and soccer fans with massive chips on their shoulder. Even when there is a death in the Australian Football family, one of the first two or three posts on the matter will be a League fan reinforcing everything we fear about that particular demographic who follow that sport. TC
TC
Guest
I think most Sydney sports fans would agree with you. Sydney's elite are attracted to Rugby and Australian Football, those of a migrant background will follow soccer, and at the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum, you have League fans. Part of the AFL's thinking with GWS is to attract those aspirationals who are wanting to distance themselves from that lower socio-economic spectrum. TC
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
The article is titled 'McCarthy remembered in Port exhibition win'. DB Swannie decided that now might the time to have a dig about crowd sizes!?? It's insensitive, churlish, and most tellingly, difficult to comprehend since it comes from an NRL fan. The least qualified to make comments about crowd sizes anywhere surely?!
Brewski
Guest
Your just repeating and agreeing with the generalisations i made, so thanks for reinforcing my post. Thanks for the invite, but i have absolutely no interest in playing RL. It has just really becoming more and more apparent to me, that one of the huge differences between RL and Australian football, is that RL appears to really only cut through one demographic well, in comparison AF covers the blue collar worker to the boardroom CEO in just such a much bigger way. And the bulk of the RL fans that post on this board only reinforce that point.
Invite Brewski
Guest
There you are Brewski, I noticed your comment on another article "I am just wondering whether RL’s stereotypical demographic of uneducated, bogan, trailor park trash fans is true, or is it just co-incidence that they are all seem to be on this thread." The truth is many of us come from a poorer demographic; unfortunately that is where league has been left to thrive, but would we really want it any other way. League is the toughest professional team sport in the world and you can’t build league players with silver spoons in their mouth. This does not mean we are all bogan, but if you’re unsure, or you would like to test yourself against the uneducated bogans come find a footy park in Mt Druitt on the weekend. Not sure how old you are but we will even let you play in the under 16’s. Open invitation, hope to see you around I'm sure the uneducated, bogan, trailor park trash from Sydneys west will greet you with open arms.
zach
Guest
10,000 is a good crowd in a country where the game is only played at a very amateur level. Great to see the local leagues playing the warm up game. Agood quality game with an exciting finish will definitely help the local volunteers promote the game over there.
Brewski
Guest
Well said mate, seriously what low lifes some of these posters are.
Anthony
Guest
The desperation of NRL fans whose glass is always half empty! I don't understand why people like DB Swan, Oikee, etc have to put anti-AFL comments on these blogs. It must be a Sydney thing to show you like RL or soccer by hating AFL. Just to put the record straight, the AFL weren't expecting a full stadium, nor did they say that. It was an exhibition of the Australian game in a country that invented soccer & the 2 rugbies. If it was an NRL exhibition game you might fill the stadium. What the AFL got was a happy crowd of Aussies & Poms who had a fun night & appreciated the game for what it was. People wore all AFL club jumpers/colours - as well as groups from the various AFL Europe clubs, incl a large group in Port Power guernseys from Sheffield Thunder AFC. It was an enjoyable Aussie night......except for the lousy facilities. We have it so good for spectators at footy in Australia.
TC
Guest
do you honestly want to make a big song and dance about whether some nothing exhibition game on the other side of the world had a half-full stadium or less - really?? You league blokes have a bigger problem than I first feared. TC
db swannie
Guest
Correction,under half full.
Anthony
Guest
I was at the game & it was excellent. Port couldn't seem to score in 1st half. Then in 3rd quarter were 6 goals down & came back. Exciting finish & good atmosphere, even if The Oval was only half full.