Fearless Port Adelaide leader Travis Boak sets tone in Shanghai

PORT Adelaide captain Travis Boak was loud, assertive and busy in Shanghai on Saturday — and back to being a commander in the Power midfield.

Travis Boak of the Power receives the Shanghai Cup after the 40-point win against Gold Coast. Picture: Sean Garnsworthy/AFL Media/Getty Images Deflated Sherrin delays Shanghai clash

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PORT Adelaide captain Travis Boak was loud, assertive and busy in Shanghai on Saturday — and back to being a commander in the Power midfield.

Boak’s game-high 29 touches — and best-afield performance — in the 40-point win against Gold Coast in Shanghai will stand as one of his finest in his 122 AFL games as the Power’s captain.

“My role is to lead from the front,” said Boak, who felt he “stole” the best-afield medal from team-mates, fellow midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper and defender Tom Jonas.

“If that means I win a medal, I win a medal ... But this was a huge occasion for the football club. I wanted to lead from the front, along with the rest of our leaders.

Power skipper Travis Boak thanks fans after the club’s second win against Gold Coast Suns in China. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

“We spoke about how important it was to come away with a win (from the second AFL premiership match played in China). That is the most important thing — the win; and I am proud of the boys’ effort.”

Book was a commanding general on the field on Saturday.

“Being in the midfield — and trying to direct as much as I can; trying to get blokes into position, that is part of my role,” Boak said.

“And that will not change week-in and week-out.”

Boak did stand out in tough conditions — and in a game that was repeatedly crowded at the contests.

“I’ll play any position Kenny (Hinkley) asks me to play,” said Boak, who was more a midfielder — and a tough onballer — than a half-forward yesterday.

“We rotated a lot through forward and the midfield — me, Brad Ebert, Tom Rockliff, Robbie Gray.

“We’ll play where we are needed. That’s the beauty of this group; we have so much depth. And when a player needs to stand up in a certain position, that’s what we do.”

The Power’s Travis Boak leads from the front against Gold Coast. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

Like Hinkley, Boak admitted to carrying an extra responsibility on the field to honour the club staff who built the China option off the field.

“There is no doubt this game is huge for the club,” Boak said. “That’s our role as leaders of the club to make sure the group is up and about because the club puts so much effort into this — and the players really do enjoy it.

“We spoke about how important this is for the club — and we (as senior players) have to lead by example. I tried to do that the best I could today — and the rest of our leaders were outstanding today. They led from the front.”

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