THEY have combined for almost 400 AFL games, but Port Adelaide duo Brad Ebert and Matthew Broadbent are on the verge of reinventing themselves in the latter part of their careers.
In their own separate ways, the 28-year-olds were two of the most pleasing stories to come out of the Power's intraclub game at Alberton Oval on Friday.
Ebert – who has built his 235-game career as a hard-running midfielder – worked almost exclusively as a deep forward.
The move had an immediate impact, Ebert kicking a game-high three goals to state his case for a permanent switch to the attacking half of the ground.
Power senior assistant coach Michael Voss said Ebert had the attributes to succeed up forward.
"If you look at some personnel that we've lost, but more importantly, 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 well," Voss said.
"It's not a fun place to play at times, in the forward line.
"You're asked to run up the field, run back down the field, chase and tackle, try and kick a goal, you've got to be fit to do that now, and 'Ebo' is certainly one of our fittest players."
The Power tried former captain Travis Boak and prolific ball-winner Tom Rockliff up forward at times last year, but both spent a lot of time in their more familiar roles through the midfield during the intraclub game.
Seeing Broadbent patrolling across half-back was a welcome sight for the Power.
Broadbent only played two SANFL games last year as he struggled with a long-term ankle injury, but showed glimpses of the 161-game player who was important during the Power's finals runs in 2013 and 2014.
"He's been through an incredible journey," Voss said.
"That's just a great story out of the day, he's such an important figure for us, he's so well liked in the locker room and players love playing with him.
"The fact he's been able to come back, we thought it would probably take quite a while for him to find his feet again, but it goes to show when you've got football ability and a bit of nous, you throw yourself back in there and he reads the game really well.
"It's one of the better stories out of today, that's for sure."