Port Adelaide legend Russell Ebert has passed away at age 72 after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in December last year.

Ebert played a club record 392 games for Port Adelaide and his two sons Brad and Brent represented the club in the AFL.

The Power paid tribute to Ebert in a statement.

"The Port Adelaide Football Club on behalf of the Ebert family sadly advises that club legend Russell Ebert passed away peacefully this afternoon after a battle with leukemia," the statement read.

"The four-time Magarey Medallist and member of the Port Adelaide Football Club and Australian Football Hall of Fame passed away at home surrounded by his family, aged 72.

"Ebert, who played a club record 392 games and won three premierships and six best and fairest awards, was recently elevated to legend status in the South Australian Sport Hall of Fame.

"The club asks that the Ebert familyโ€™s privacy is respected at this time and thanks everyone on the familyโ€™s behalf for the love and support it has received in recent months."

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan also released a statement to thank Ebert for his contribution to the game.

โ€œRussell Ebert was an extraordinary footballer and his record attests to that as the only person in SANFL history with four Magarey Medals, coupled with multiple premierships and nearly 400 senior games just for his beloved Magpies, alongside his brilliant state career and a season with North Melbourne in the VFL," McLachlan said.

โ€œAs a young fan of the game in Adelaide, even when watching him as an opposition player, you couldnโ€™t help but admire his high marking, his one-touch ball-gathering, his brilliant attacking handball and his exceptional kicking skills on both sides of his body, as he was taking your side apart. All while being an incredibly fair player who relied on his skills while being strong and brave.

โ€œAs his time in football concluded, Russell then truly blossomed as a humble but strong leader in wider society, not just football, and across more than 30 years he diligently worked every day in seeking to improve his community, using his profile and leadership to show people better ways to treat each other, and assist those who were struggling.

โ€œThe child in me will always admire the great footballer but the adult that I am is in awe of what Russell Ebert was as a man, and his loss after bravely confronting his illness is devastating for his family, for his club, his many fans and for the state of South Australia, where he has given so much,โ€ Mr McLachlan said.

Ebert was officially named as the clubโ€™s greatest player in 2020 as part of Port Adelaideโ€™s 150-year celebrations