Ebert: This one’s for ‘nanna’

Port Adelaide midfielder Brad Ebert with his sister Ashleigh, 22, and grandmother Lorraine Obst. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Limited

BRAD Ebert has extra motivation to shine against grand finalist Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

The Port Adelaide vice-captain will not only be striving to help the Power consolidate its top four standing, he will be playing for one of his biggest supporters — his "nanna'', as he calls her.

Lorraine Obst — wife of Port's 1967 Magarey Medallist Trevor "Bubbles'' Obst — is battling Motor Neurone Disease.

Her struggles have hit the Ebert and Obst families hard and prompted Brad to dedicate Saturday's game to his grandma, who will be in her usual seat in the southern grandstand.

Lorraine, 70, and well-known in netball circles, has been a driving force behind Brad's career and rarely missed a match he has played.

"Seeing what nanna has gone through in the past few months has come as a real shock and been really tough on the family,'' said Ebert.

"In a short space of time she has gone from being incredibly energetic, fit and healthy to losing her mobility and her voice.

"Her mind is still active and she is mentally switched on but her body is betraying her, which is frustrating for her and devastating for those around her.''

May is MND awareness month and Ebert is speaking out about his grandma's struggles to bring attention to the cruel disease and help find a cure.

He and his family took part in a charity walk through Adelaide last Sunday to raise money for MND Australia.

"It's just such a shocking disease and it's sad to see nanna decline the way she has,'' said Brad

"I'll be looking to put in a good one (performance) to help bring a smile to her face.''

The illness is known in the United States as Lou Gehrig's disease after the famous New York Yankees baseballer who was struck down by the condition at the height of his powers and died in 1941, aged 37.

MND damages motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in muscle malfunction throughout the entire body. Eventually even breathing becomes difficult.

There is no cure.

The Obst-Ebert clan has been a dominant football story at Alberton for more than six decades.

Brad is one of four Eberts to have played for the club, along with his dad, Craig, legendary four-times Magarey Medallist Russell and cousin Brett.

While grandfather Trevor Obst won the '67 Magarey, his great-uncle Peter Obst won Port's 1962 best and fairest award.

Between them, Peter Obst and Russell and Brett Ebert have collected eight best-and-fairest awards at the Magpies.