Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak says the Power can find another gear in race to finals
CAPTAIN Travis Boak says Port Adelaide is “missing the cherry on top’’ but that it will take ugly wins as it zeros in on its first premiership since 2004.
CAPTAIN Travis Boak says Port Adelaide is “missing the cherry on top’’ but that it will take ugly wins as it zeros in on its first premiership since 2004.
The Power made hard work of a battling St Kilda at Adelaide Oval on Saturday but managed to win a fifth consecutive game for the first time in four years — a fact Boak was quick to point out.
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“Earlier in the year we were struggling to put more than two wins together so to win five on the trot is a real positive,’’ Boak said.
“But we know we can play a lot better. This game wasn’t pretty, our ball movement and finishing in front of goal wasn’t as good as we would have liked.
“We’ve got a bit of work to do offensively. We were frustrated in areas of our game that should be better, the skills were not as polished as we would have liked.
“But that’s what makes a good side — the fact that we’re winning but not satisfied because we want to get better.’’
While Boak acknowledged Port should have kicked more than 12 goals from its 67 inside 50s, he took pride in his team’s defensive effort, which saw it restrict St Kilda to 7.8 (50).
This was just eight points more than the Saints’ lowest ever score against the Power of 6.7 (43) in 2007.
“We defended really well,’’ Boak said.
“We dominated for a lot of the game and kept the ball in our forward half, which is where we want it to be, and our pressure was really good, it’s just that the finish wasn’t.
“We missed opportunities we really should have capitalised on but to still win by nearly 40 points (36) shows we are doing pretty well.
“But we did sit in the rooms after the game and acknowledge that we’ve still got plenty of work to do to make sure we stay with the best sides.
“Better ball movement and finishing would be the cherry on top but if we can continue to be as good defensively, win contested ball and apply pressure to the opposition we’re going to be in a lot of games.’’
Port has the best pressure rating in the AFL — a statistic Boak said the club takes great pride in.
“The way we want to play our footy is to make sure our pressure is up in every game, that we’re winning contested ball and stopping the opposition from scoring,’’ he said.
“If we can walk off the park pleased with our pressure and our defence we are going to be a good side.
“That’s where our game starts and that’s what wins big games of footy.’’
andrew.capel@news.com.au
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