Travis Boak to play game 350 today

FORMER Torquay Football Club junior Travis Boak will play his 350^th AFL game today (Sunday, March 24) against Richmond at the MCG.

The former Port Adelaide skipper and all-time games leader at the Power is only the 23^rd person to reach the 350-game milestone in the VFL/AFL competition.

Chosen with pick 5 in the 2006 draft, Boak made his debut in Round 12, 2007 against Essendon and has collected multiple club accolades over his career to date.

He has earned three All-Australian selections (2013, 2014, and 2020), two club best-and-fairests (2011 and 2019) and was the Brownlow Medal runner-up in 2020.

Boak is also just the 15^th player in VFL/AFL history to reach 350 games as a member of one club, embodying Boak’s reputation as a clubman.

Before this afternoon’s clash against the Tigers, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon praised Boak for his achievements on and off the field.

“It is well known to everyone in football that Travis is a player of the highest quality, but he is also distinguished by his contribution to the Port Adelaide and South Australian community,” Mr Dillon said.

“Travis has dedicated years of service to supporting children and their families impacted by cancer through his role as an Ambassador for the Childhood Cancer Association.

“In 2021, Boak was the proud recipient of the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award for his outstanding contribution in the community.

“As a multiple All-Australian and Best-and-Fairest winner we’re thrilled to be congratulating Travis on this important milestone.

Boak’s game against Richmond will put him 50 games ahead of the club’s next highest games player in Kane Cornes (300).

Port Adelaide head coach Ken Hinkley said it had been a terrific week in the build-up to the game and is extremely happy for Boak.

“It’s a great reflection for everyone who has been involved with Travis’ over the journey, it’s been a great week already with the past players coming in on Wednesday, and clearly there’s been a lot spoken about with his family and everything else.

“But ultimately, Travis will just want the game to played, and he will want victory for the club and that’ll be the most important thing.

“His career is about incredible endurance and the want to compete, and looking to improve each year, which is what largely sets him apart from others, he always tries to better himself.”

Boak will run onto the MCG alongside his teammates at 3.55pm for a 4pm start, as the Power look to make it two wins from two contests to start the 2024 season.