AFL 2023: All the latest from Port Adelaide exit meetings as Travis Boak speaks on his future
Moments after his exit interview at Alberton, Travis Boak declared he still has the ‘fire in the belly’. But will he play on at the Power in 2024? Watch the video.
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Port Adelaide great Travis Boak says he feels like he has “plenty in the body and still have fire in the belly” as he declared it would be the Power or nothing in 2024.
The Power’s AFL games record holder and former captain is out of contract and had his exit meeting at Alberton on Tuesday.
After saying on Monday that he had thoughts that he had played his last game for Power in its semi-final loss to GWS on Saturday night, Boak was a lot more optimistic as he left Alberton on Tuesday.
“It was good, a really good chat,” Boak said.
“Still working through some details, but it was a really positive chat.
“This is a big decision so we will take as long as we need to.”
The 35-year-old has had a reduced role for the Power this season, being used as the tactical sub multiple times.
After captain Tom Jonas spent time in the SANFL this year following being dropped the Power would be wary about the same in 2024.
But it is understood the Power would be nervous about forcing out one of the club’s greatest players for fear of alienating the supporter base who were angry after reports last week that there was an impasse between the player and club.
Boak himself said he felt he still had plenty to give as a player, and this would only be at the Power.
He said this meant it was a decision between going around another year or hanging up the boots.
“Yeah I want to be here, this is my home,” he said.
“Basically yeah, that’s it yeah (the situation).
“This club is going in a really good direction led by Kenny and this playing group.
“Obviously we didn’t finish this year the way we wanted to but this young group is taking this club forward and that is why I want to be a part of it.
“I still feel like I have plenty in the body and still have fire in the belly.”
The Power continued exit interviews on Tuesday.
Riley Bonner, who is also out of contract, fronted up for his at Alberton.
Bonner played 11 games for the Power this year, with the 26-year-old unable to nail down a spot on the wing and Port Adelaide went with midfielders Boak, Ollie Wines and Willem Drew on the outside to end the year.
Veteran ruckman Scott Lycett’s future is up in the air.
The 30-year-old does have the option to stay at Alberton but has said he has to weigh up how his body is holding up and whether he wants to stay or go.
Father-son Jackson Mead was expected to have clubs look at him after his strong SANFL form did not coincide with a spot in the Power’s side this year, but it is understood he is more likely to stay at Alberton than leave.
Mid-season draftee Quinton Narkle has agreed to a 12-month contract extension.
Narkle kicked four goals in three games for the Power after joining the club from Richmond’s VFL side in May.
The 25-year-old forward/midfielder could not break into Port’s AFL team late in the season, getting overlooked after the round 17 home win against Gold Coast.
Narkle, the cousin of Power teammate Sam Powell-Pepper, played 41 games for Geelong from 2018-2022.
Originally published as AFL 2023: All the latest from Port Adelaide exit meetings as Travis Boak speaks on his future
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