AFL Now: Latest footy news ahead of round 2, Travis Boak responds to Ken Hinkley critics

History will be made this weekend for Port Adelaide, but all eyes will be on the response of the Power after they were shellacked by Collingwood last weekend. Recap Wednesday’s biggest footy news.

Port Adelaide great Travis Boak has defended Ken Hinkley, with the Power’s succession plan under fire.

The Power take on the Tigers looking to respond after its heavy loss to Collingwood in Round 1.

That has led to criticism coming the club’s way, as well as questions over the succession plan from Ken Hinkley to Josh Carr, with the senior coach again in the firing line.

Boak said the playing group took the criticism personally.

“Everyone in this footy club, everyone in the playing group does. Because he (Hinkley) means so much to us and has given his heart and soul to this group,” he said.

“It is frustrating when you put out a performance like that and Kenny gets talked about, I think he understands it is part of the job but our players absolutely love him.”

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Boak is set to become Port Adelaide’s games record holder when he takes the field on Saturday, but the former skipper says he pales in comparison to the “greats of this club”.

The Power champion will surpass Russell Ebert against Richmond, the man fondly referred to as ‘God’ at Alberton, when he plays his 373rd AFL game.

It will be his 393rd match in Port Adelaide colours, with 20 official pre-season games recognised by AFL protocols, SANFL rules and the club itself, moving him past Ebert’s 392 matches.

Boak said it was an honour to be in the same sentence as Ebert – who died in 2021 from acute myeloid leukaemia aged 72.

“It is about the legacy of being a good person and how we can impact our community and then going out there and representing the footy club,” he said.

“I certainly don’t consider myself up there with the Russell Ebert’s and the greats of this club, I just love playing footy and love playing it for this club and it is a great honour.”

Ebert’s son Brett – who played 166 games for the Power and was a teammate of Boak – said there was no better person to take his dad’s honour.

“I would love dad to be here to speak about Trav and what he has done for the club,” he said.

Travis Boak and Brett Ebert (son of Russell Ebert). Picture: Brett Hartwig

“Everyone knows what he does on the field, but the stuff he does off the field is just unbelievable. That is what I remember dad as being pretty young when he finished I more remember the off-field work and in the community and the charities and the people less fortunate than himself.

“I see that in Trav and I have mentioned it before, the way Trav goes about it, his professionalism and the work he does off the field is what sets him apart.

“It is more the person he is, that’s what we should really celebrate.”

The latest milestone for Boak comes in his 19th season at the top level.

He said the big change for him had been around his mindset.

“What I did six, seven, eight years ago is different to what I need to do know, the mental challenge is different, my purpose is different,” he said.

Brett said that longevity, as well as the person Boak was, made the former Power skipper one of the most respected players in the game.

“I was thinking about it the other day, you get any supporter of any club to walk past Trav they all have respect for him,” he said.

“Some people dislike players from other teams but I don’t think there is a person who doesn’t like Trav and dad was the same.

“He played for the Magpies, not many people like the Magpies but the respect that everyone had for dad even if they were a Sturt or Norwood supporter.”

Originally published as AFL Now: Latest footy news ahead of round 2, Travis Boak responds to Ken Hinkley critics