Twelve years after being drafted as polar opposites, Travis Boak and Justin Westhoff etch their names in Power history
Opposites attract: Why Port Adelaide’s Travis Boak and Justin Westhoff are joined at the hip - and are poised to break a club record.
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JUSTIN Westhoff says they are Port Adelaide’s yin and yang.
“In many ways we are polar opposites,’’ the Power’s Mr Fixit said of his relationship with captain Travis Boak.
“Trav was drafted as a heavy hitter, being the No. 5 pick. He came with a lot of expectations on him and you could see from the start that he was going to be a good leader.
“I didn’t even expect to get drafted that year (2006) before going at 71. I was shocked when my name got called and can’t even remember whether I heard it on the radio or found out via computer.
“We were opposites in many ways - he was a star teenager and I was overlooked at a couple of drafts before being picked as a 20-year-old (from SANFL club Central District).
“For us to be where we are now, having been teammates for 12 years and played so many games together, well, there is some yin and yang about it.’’
Westhoff, 31, and Boak, 29, will tomorrow against Fremantle set a record for most games played as Power teammates.
The match in Perth will be their 221st together - breaking the record of 220 held by Kane Cornes and Dom Cassisi from 2002-14.
Members of Port’s stellar 2006 draft class that included triple club champion Robbie Gray and 101-gamer Paul Stewart, South Australian Westhoff and Victorian Boak played their first match together against Essendon in round 12, 2007.
That was midfielder Boak's AFL debut and came two weeks after a 200cm string bean Westhoff kicked three goals in his first game against Hawthorn.
“The record means a lot to both of us because it’s been quite some journey,’’ said Boak, who has been Power skipper since replacing Cassisi at the start of 2013.
“We started our careers together, have been through a lot of tough times on the field and have come out the other side to be in a position where we think we are on the verge of something special.
“I remember the big ‘Hoff’ as this quiet and skinny kid at the start who looked like Napoleon Dynamite (comedic movie character).
“But he showed from his first game that he had great dukes (hands) and was a special talent who was going to have a great career.
“He had footy-smarts that most players don’t have and as the years have gone on he's developed into a fine leader.
“His ability to play so many different roles so well, whether it’s as a forward, ruckman or defender, and be such a calming influence under pressure has been so important for our football club. There’s not too many players who can do what he does.’’
The pair’s AFL careers started with a bang.
Westhoff played in a grand final in just his 16th game. Boak lined up for just his 14th match in the infamous 119-point loss to Geelong in the 2007 decider.
As tough as that record defeat was, the Power hasn’t been back to a grand final since, which has become a driving force for the duo.
“What our 12-year career has shown us is that making a grand final is not easy,’’ Boak said.
“When we started and played in the last day in September so quickly we were thinking ‘how easy is this?’
“But there’s been plenty of tough times since - we hardly won a game for three years - and that’s the message we’ve both tried to impart on our teammates, especially the young players who haven’t been through some of the tough periods that players like me, Westy, Robbie and Hamish Hartlett have.’’
Port sunk from being second in 2007 to 13th the next year, 10th in 2009 and 2010, 16th in 2011 and 14th in 2012 before rising back up the ladder in coach Ken Hinkley’s first year in charge in 2013.
Boak and Westhoff describe the club’s upset finals victory against Collingwood at the MCG in 2013 as their most memorable game because it signified a change in fortunes for the Power after it had been battling on and off the field and fighting for its AFL survival.
“That was pretty special,’’ said Boak.
“We hadn’t played finals for so long and no-one gave us a chance against Collingwood so to play so well really showed we were back in business as a football club.
“And the big fella (Westhoff) kicked one (a goal) out of his backside at a pretty important time.’’
Westhoff said the win against the Magpies ended a “turbulent’’ few years.
“We’d been through a tough period and we felt that win was a turning of the tide for us,’’ he said.
“You could see the resolve among the players and the desire to climb the mountain again.’’
While Boak, who has played 236 games, and Westhoff (241) describe their relationship as “special’’ because they have been through so much together, off the field they are still polar opposites.
Westhoff is married to Rebecca and has three children, Bodie, 7, Tully, 5, and Piper, 2.
Boak is single.
But, in the twilight of their careers, they are being driven by a common goal - winning a first premiership and ending Port’s 14-year flag drought.
“We are in a great position at the moment (fourth) and we think this group of players is capable of achieving the ultimate success,’’ Boak said.
“But we also understand how hard they (premierships) are to come by so we’re determined to continue to do the hard work to get there.
“If we continue to play our pressure game we will give ourselves every opportunity.’’
MOST GAMES AS POWER TEAMMATES
220 — Travis Boak/Justin Westhoff (2007-18)
220 — Kane Cornes/Dom Cassisi (2002-14)
209 — Warren Tredrea/Peter Burgoyne (1997-2009)
200 — Warren Tredrea/Chad Cornes (1999-2010)
184 — Warren Tredrea/Brendon Lade (1997-2009)
MOST GAMES AS VFL-AFL TEAMMATES
307 — Andrew McLeod/Tyson Edwards (Adel) 1995-2010
301 — Adam Goodes/Jude Bolton (Syd) 1999-2013
293 — Brent Harvey/Drew Petrie (NM) 2001-16
289 — Kevin Bartlett/Francis Bourke (Rich) 1967-81
287 — Scott West/Brad Johnson (WB) 1994-2008
280 — Nathan Burke/Stewart Loewe (SK) 1987-2002
Originally published as Twelve years after being drafted as polar opposites, Travis Boak and Justin Westhoff etch their names in Power history