Melbourne, Essendon ready to fight Geelong for Travis Boak

GEELONG will start the race for Travis Boak at a massive disadvantage, with rivals confident they can trump offers for the Port Adelaide star.

GEELONG will start the race for Travis Boak at a massive disadvantage, with rivals confident they can trump offers for the Port Adelaide star.

The Cats are bullish about luring Boak, with former captain Andrew Bews yesterday saying the Torquay boy would flourish in the Geelong midfield.

Boak continues to delay an official decision on a move home.

But with Melbourne and Essendon still extremely interested in Boak, his price tag and potential compensation for Port Adelaide complicate Geelong's likely bid.

The Port Adelaide star would have to sacrifice $150,000 or more a year to join the Cats given they could only offer him about $450,000 a season.

Melbourne has more salary cap room than just about any club and has potential draft selections at pick three and four.

It is believed Melbourne is happy to offer pick four.

It would mean the Cats might have to throw in an extra player or use the second Gary Ablett compensation pick to sweeten the deal.

Bews, captain in 1990-91, said Boak would be the perfect acquisition for a Cats midfield with some ageing stars.

"It would be wonderful for him. It's where he's from and there is a strong network down in Torquay for him," Bews said.

"It would help him without a doubt.

"It's something a little bit novel for the club to go after a big star.

"I would love to see it happen, but the hard part is the mechanics. How are they going to get him?"

Port Adelaide's Jackson Trengove said the players had aggressively sought answers from Boak on his future in recent days.