Travis Boak says casting off the load of club leadership has helped him recapture his best form in the midfield
Travis Boak acknowledges he is in career-best form but has talked down his Brownlow Medal chances ahead of his 250th game for the Power, despite Champion Data stats that suggest otherwise.
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Travis Boak is a reluctant Brownlow Medal bolter but feels in career-best form and armed with his best shot at a Port Adelaide flag.
Boak enters game 250 against Collingwood on Friday night at Marvel Stadium crediting conversion from “control” freak to a hard midfield focus for his 2019 career renaissance.
Dual All-Australian Boak’s numbers over the first six rounds are the best in his 13-year career.
Asked if he had delivered a better start to a campaign, Boak said: “Probably not. I am proud of the consistency I have been able to bring, work I have been able to put in. When it does pay off it is nice.”
Boak is averaging a career-high 123 rankings points and 32.7 touches this season. He hadn’t averaged over 30 disposals in a six week stretch before. Boak trails only Lachie Neale (34.5), Jake Lloyd (32.8) and Andrew Gaff (32.8) in average disposals per game.
Champion Data ranks Boak behind Patrick Dangerfield and Neale in predicted Brownlow Medal voting.
“I am just enjoying my footy at the moment, six games in and the type of footy we are playing has been quite enjoyable,” said Boak, wanting to “move on” from talk of Brownlow Medal contention.
Boak, was liberated by relinquishing the captaincy to Tom Jonas and Ollie Wins then Jarrad Schofield’s redeploy to a front-line midfield role.
“Just the load, the biggest thing for me is not trying to control everything,” said Boak. “A thing I have been not so great on is you think you can fix everything. Letting go of that relaxes you a lot more.”
Rating half-forward “the hardest role in footy”, Boak is back where he belongs alongside Tom Rocklff, Wines, Sam Powell-Pepper and rookie Willem Drew
“It has been nice to come back into midfield. Guys like Rock, Ollie, Drew, Pep we all bring something different. We are bringing some pretty good numbers back there,” he said.
Port emerged from financial peril and on field disappointment to finished fifth and third under Ken Hinkley in 2013-14. Boak says the 2018 outfit is superior and wiser.
A rookie in Port’s 2007 grand final loss to Geelong, Boak’s time could come again with Port sharing a 4-2 win-loss record with the Pies.
Connor Rozee and Xavier Duursma have recorded Rising Star gongs this season. Pies ruckman Brodie Grundy must contend with 2018 grand final nemesis Scott Lycett and in-form Paddy Ryder.
“I think the sky is the limit with this group, have a good balance of senior players that lead the way really well and younger players that bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm and how we want to play to the group,” Boak said.
Refusing Geelong’s opportunist overtures in 2012 sits right with Torquay product Boak in an “emotional” milestone week.
“I have never looked back and wished I had gone somewhere else,” said Boak.
“We are on a pretty good journey. Hopefully I have got a few more years left and can have some success because this club has given me so much.”
Champion Data’s Brownlow Medal leaderboard after Round 6
Patrick Dangerfield (Gee) 9 votes
Lachie Neale (BL) 8.7
Travis Boak (Port) 7.9
Nat Fyfe (Frem) 7.7
Patrick Cripps (Carl) 7.5
Stephen Coniglio (GWS) 7.2
Marcus Bontempelli (WB) 6.5
Adam Treloar (Coll) 6
Tom Rockliff (Port) 5.7
Jack Macrae (WB) 5.7
SUPER SIX
This is Boak’s best unique six week patch for Ranking Points and Disposals as shown below.
Rounds, Ranking Points Avg,
R1-6 2019:123
R16-21 2013: 121
R5-10 2014: 118
R1-6 2013: 115
R12-17 2014: 113
Rounds, Disposal Avg
R1-6 2019: 32.7
R10-15 2014: 29.8
R4-9 2015: 29.3
R16-21 2013: 28.8
R19-R1 2009-201:0 27.8
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