Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak says players wanted to lift for Todd Marshall, Hamish Hartlett

A PASSIONATE Port Adelaide skipper Travis Boak said he could not be prouder of his teammates who felt they owed it to Todd Marshall and Hamish Hartlett to deliver a win over North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.

Charlie Dixon celebrates with teammates after kicking a goal.

A PASSIONATE Port Adelaide skipper Travis Boak said he could not be prouder of his teammates who felt they owed it to Todd Marshall and Hamish Hartlett to deliver a win over North Melbourne on the weekend.

Boak, who also spoke about his role supporting troubled midfielder and housemate Sam Powell-Pepper, said the Power’s win over the Kangaroos on Saturday was for Marshall who lost his father and popular defender Hartlett who suffered a season-ending knee injury during the week.

“I just love this club so much. For anyone who’s been into the club or involved with the club you see how close we are and how much of a family we are,” Boak told The Advertiser.

Travis Boak of the Power leads his team out onto the field.

“There is no doubt at times we don’t play the footy we want to, and we make mistakes, we’re human, but we will always stick together and that’s supporters and anyone involved at the club, it’s the Port Adelaide way.

“I was so proud of the boys, it’s been a really challenging week for the group obviously starting with the news we got from Toddy and then Hamish going down, you hurt for those boys and all we could do was go out and play the footy they wanted to see and make them proud.

“We’re a really, really close group and like a family so once we had that news, the boys almost felt like they owed Hamish and Toddy and his family something to smile about.

“That’s why I’m really proud of the group to have our backs against the wall in terms of what we’d dealt with and come out to do that is just — that’s why I love this club and I love this group.

“If there’s one place you want to be when some hard stuff happens, it’s a footy club.

“And we’ve got some pretty good people around our club. It doesn’t matter who you are in our group if you’re the youngest or the oldest you can lean on anyone and that’s how we get through.

“Whether it’s a game of footy or something more important like family and what Toddy is going through, we stick together no matter what.”

Boak said he was mindful of the team being switched on and ready to go at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, but he need not have worried.

Boak celebrates a goal in the win over the Kangaroos with his teammates.

“I thought they were in a pretty good space, leading up to the game it still felt pretty normal after everything that had gone on,” he said.

“North have been playing some really good footy, we had to come out and stop how they wanted to play and then play our game.

“We hadn’t been starting well or playing that well either so to be able to do that in terms of pressure and maintain that throughout the whole game was really good.

“This is the type of football we’re capable of and we’ve got to make sure we do that every week.”

The captain has also been crucial in supporting Powell-Pepper who was banned for three games by the AFL for being drunk in public and making inappropriate contact with a female at a nightclub on April 8.

“I’ve just tried to educate him on a few things,” Boak said.

“Sam is a wonderful guy, if anyone saw the person he is behind the scenes. I’ve had family over constantly and he’s never met them before but the first thing he did was hug them, he’s just a really good guy.

“Then from there I’ve just tried to be there for him. He’s had a lot of heat come on him from the media or fans through social media and external stuff, it’s a lot for a 20-year-old.

“I’ve got my sister and her boyfriend there as well giving him support and they were amazing for Sam and he was so grateful for it, he’ll come out a better person for it.”