Travis Boak to play on with Port Adelaide in the 2025 AFL season

Travis Boak has revealed the inner turmoil he wrestled with before deciding to extend his AFL career for another year. MATT TURNER has the details.

Port Adelaide great Travis Boak says he was torn about whether to play on before choosing to return for a 19th season.

“It was obviously a big decision,” Boak, 36, told the club’s website.

“Once the season finished, I had a little bit to get through.

“Was the body going to hold up for another year?

“Mentally, physically am I still capable?

“As you get older a lot of doubt creeps in.”

After talking through it with his family, Boak felt “the pros outweighed the cons” and he still had more to give so he agreed to a 12-month extension.

The evergreen midfielder will enter next season on 371 games, the 12-most in VFL/AFL history, and as the second-oldest player, behind Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury.

Travis Boak is playing on. Picture: Getty Images

“Mum’s always been super supportive, along with both my sisters and Beamo (brother-in-law Anthony Biemans),” he said.

“We had a deeper conversation around mentally how it’s going to affect me playing on again and they knew I was excited for that challenge, and it wouldn’t drain me.

“Once I made the decision to go on, they were really excited.

“The only thing Mum was disappointed about was she’s going to have to pay for more flights because she won’t miss a game.”

Boak’s lengthy playing CV includes being the longest serving Power captain, a dual best-and-fairest winner and three-time All-Australian.

Next year he could surpass Port Adelaide legend Russell Ebert’s club record of 392 games.

Boak played 23 of the Power’s 26 matches this past campaign, averaging 18.2 disposals playing mostly on a wing.

TBC: Travis Boak Continued 🤍 pic.twitter.com/pN44qI1smf

— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) October 18, 2024

He was confident Port remained well placed to end its 21-year premiership drought next season despite losing star defender Dan Houston to Collingwood.

Coming off a preliminary final, Port added three players: Gold Coast duo Jack Lukosius and Rory Atkins, along with Magpies goalsneak Joe Richards.

It holds two picks (13, 29) inside 30 in what recruiters consider a strong draft.

“Obviously the ultimate success is what we’re chasing and I think we’ve got a great group to do it,” Boak said.

“We finished in a prelim with a young group and I think if we continue to learn to be better athletes, better people, the sky’s the limit.

Travis Boak's still got it 😉#AFLPowerFreopic.twitter.com/8GZoSKzPPz

— AFL (@AFL) March 1, 2024

“It’s sad to see Dan go as a teammate and a friend.

“We’ll definitely miss him … but we’ll continue to stay in touch and I hope he has a great year at Collingwood.

“Joe, Jack and Rory will make great additions.”

Port Adelaide list manager Jason Cripps said Boak, who was drafted at pick 5 in 2006, was a fantastic mentor and had some outstanding on-field performances this season.

“His preparation is second-to-none and that speaks to the longevity of his career,” Cripps said.