Travis Boak says Port Adelaide must use commitment of Hamish Hartlett to match Geelong
Port Adelaide star Travis Boak has challenged his teammates to follow the ferocious lead of comeback kid Hamish Hartlett to avoid capitulating to flag favourite Geelong.
Port Adelaide
Don't miss out on the headlines from Port Adelaide. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Travis Boak says Port Adelaide must channel the spirit of Hamish Hartlett or face contested ball ‘slaughter’ against Geelong — regardless of A-list reinforcements.
Port Adelaide will drift into the red and further from the top eight with defeat against premiership favourite Geelong on Saturday at Adelaide Oval.
Chris Scott’s side has dropped just one game this season, to GWS while Port has a 6-6 win-loss record.
Forward magician Michael Walters was impossible to shut down in a career-best, six-goal show on Saturday at Optus Stadium but folding to Fremantle’s final quarter surge burns for Boak.
“There were patches we played well but there is so much we need to improve on to certainly be reliable in the big moments,” Boak told The Advertiser.
“They brought a lot of pressure and we struggled to get it out of our back half in the last quarter.”
Port led contested possessions 119-110 and clearances 28-25 against Fremantle at the final change in Perth. The Dockers knocked Port out of the game and eight by finishing with a 161-145 contested possession superiority and 40-31 clearances.
“There were a lot errors that cost us goals and when you come up against good sides you are going to get slaughtered and that is what happened in crucial moments,” warned Boak with the Dockers deep diving stoppages 15-3 in the final quarter.
“Coming over to Perth is never easy but to be a point up at three quarter time and let it slip with five minutes to go is disappointing.”
Co-skipper Ollie Wines, Brad Ebert and spearhead Charlie Dixon will push to front the Cats. Ball-magnet Tom Rockliff must overcome a hamstring strain.
Port won’t match a fresh Cats engine room boasting Patrick Dangerfield, Tim Kelly, Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett without the physical sacrifices vice-captain Hartlett displayed at Optus Stadium after 420 days sidelined by knee and hamstring injuries.
“We have a big game next week. There will probably be a few changes, guys coming back into the side. We have to keep fighting and get to the point where we are consistent and reliable,” said Boak, Port’s best against the Dockers with 36 touches, 15 contested, and eight clearances.
Hartlett endured a bone-crunching collision with Brennan Cox, jarred knee and cramp to win 23 touches, five contested and four inside 50s.
“Hammer, to play his first game back after so long and play a really good game, it is great to have him back, a leader of the club,” said Boak.
“He continues to attack the ball and we love that about him to give us some run off half-back.”
Nat Fyfe was creating havoc until Ken Hinkley shifted Boak on to Fremantle’s 2015 Brownlow Medallist in the second quarter. Boak — when opposed to Fyfe — won 12-5 disposals but was shaded 2-5 in contested possessions.
Fyfe finished strongly with 11 final term touches for a game high 37 but Boak was Port’s only midfielder to make the Fremantle skipper accountable.
“It is always good coming up against one of the best players in the competition. He is very hard to play on, a strong man. He probably got the points in the end, they won the game and he had a big influence in the last quarter,” said Boak.
Potential Houston replacement puts Port contract talks on hold
He has been touted as a breakout contender for Port Adelaide and is unsigned beyond this year. But for now this Power youngster’s focus is on playing regularly, not a new deal.
Round 1 lock? Verdict on every new face at Crows, Power
It was a big off-season for both South Australian clubs. But a few months on, which new faces have really made their mark? Get the intel and verdict on every draftee and recruit.