The Carlton Football Club is pleased to welcome Brad Ebert as a development coach with its AFL program ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Ebert boasts 260 games at AFL level with both West Coast and Port Adelaide over a 13-year playing career.
Selected with pick No.13 in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft, Ebert played in the West for four seasons before returning to his native South Australia.
Once at Port Adelaide, he had a breakout season in 2012 and was subsequently named vice-captain of the club from 2013 – 2015, where he remained as a member of the leadership group until 2018.
His role as a leader at Alberton was underpinned by a selfless approach, with a focus on others and dedication to unite the group on a daily basis – all standout qualities that perfectly compliment the strong team and family values that are being engrained at IKON Park.
Ebert was a source of consistency during his nine years at Port Adelaide, and at the conclusion of the 2020 season, announced his retirement from AFL.
Following his playing career, he has most recently sat on the Football Sub-Committee for Port Adelaide, providing strategical guidance to the football department.
Now at IKON Park, the 32-year-old will work closely with Carlton Head of Development and VFL Coach Luke Power and will be instrumental in supporting players as they progress through the Blues’ development pathway as they challenge for senior selection.
Ebert will also play a key role in driving habits on and off the field, and will have an additional role as a VFL assistant coach.
Carlton Head of Football Brad Lloyd said the football program would benefit from having someone with such extensive and recent AFL experience.
“It is fantastic for our list to be able to work with someone like Brad who has intimate knowledge of the AFL system and is so widely respected for how he carried himself throughout his playing career,” Lloyd said.
“Brad comes to us with 260 games at the elite level, which will allow him to assess where learning opportunities exist within our current program and impart his knowledge to our developing players.
“Working hand-in-hand with Head of Development Luke Power, Brad will focus on our younger talent and will work to ensure they build the skillset needed to succeed at the elite level.
“It’s also a great benefit that Brad and Michael have already had the chance to work together at Port Adelaide over six years, and Michael can continue being a mentor for Brad, this time in the coaching space.
“We’re thrilled to have Brad on board and know he will be a great addition to our team and a great asset to the playing group.”
Ebert said he was excited to get started at Carlton and was looking forward to the opportunity to work closely with some of the younger talent on the Club’s list.
“A big part of my role at Port Adelaide was to help drive standards within the team, and I aim to bring that same mentality to my work as a development coach at Carlton,” Ebert said.
“My aim is to support the younger members of the side, while assisting in their growth and development and impart knowledge to guide their decision making.
“I am a firm believer in driving high standards through a professional program and I am committed to bringing authenticity, adaptability, and humility to this position.
“It is a privilege to grow my coaching career under the guidance of Michael Voss, who I have already worked closely with during our time at Port Adelaide, and I have no doubt I will thrive under his leadership, just as the playing group do.
“I also look forward to working closely with Luke Power, who is so highly regarded in the development space, while also being an assistant coach for the VFL side, and I thank the Carlton Football Club for giving me the opportunity to do so.”
