Travis Boak’s family reflect on his career ahead of game 350 against the Tigers

When Travis Boak was drafted to Port Adelaide, his mum cried and swore because he wasn’t staying in Victoria. Now 18 years on, the family reflect on his amazing career at the Power.

Normally the Boak family tries to follow an “each game is a game” mantra when it comes to Travis’ career.

But it is hard to do this when it comes to Sunday, when Port Adelaide take on Richmond at the MCG.

With 25 to 30 family and friends in the stands, Travis will run out for his 350th game for the Power.

He is the first player from the Power to achieve this milestone, the first from an SA club and the 23rd in VFL/AFL history.

“It is a bit surreal to be honest,” sister Cassie told this masthead.

“We just normally go about our business, each game is a game and all of a sudden it is game 350 and you are like wow this is actually a big deal.”

Amplifying the significance of the milestone is that Boak’s family will actually be able to attend this one.

His 300th, and then 301st in which he became the Power’s AFL games record holder, were played in front of an empty Marvel Stadium in 2021 because of Covid-19 lockdowns in Melbourne.

Boak’s 300th, against Collingwood in Round 19, was the first milestone game that mum Chicki missed of his career.

Chicki and Travis at the 2016 Port Adelaide best and fairest. Photo Naomi Jellicoe

There was even a late bid by radio station SEN to get Chicki into Marvel Stadium to provide special comments during its coverage of the match - a win by the Power - so she would see Travis’ 300th but this approval was subsequently revoked.

Chicki said not being able to see the 300th game in the flesh made being there for Travis’ 350th all the more special.

“That was the first milestone that I had missed during his 18 years, so excited to be able to be there on Sunday,” she said.

“I think so (it is more special because of that), I suppose they are all really special whether they are 50, 100, they are all extremely special and to be there and watch them and follow the journey is really nice.”

Usually they don’t, but given the significance of the milestone there has been some reflection about Boak’s career.

“He has achieved a lot and in weeks like this you start to reflect on everything that he has actually done,” Cassie said.

“Because for us, we don’t talk footy all the time it is about just being people and what we do in our lives and being there for each other.

Travis Boak being chaired off at an empty stadium after game 300.Picture: Getty Images

“And he is grateful for all of the support in everything rather than just focusing on footy, but I think it would be amiss to not reflect on everything that he has been able to do.

“You kind of forget it all, it feels like a blur and these weeks come and it is like wow it’s an incredible career.”

It is well known that when Boak was drafted by the Power with the fifth pick of the 2006 Draft, Chicki cried and uncharacteristically swore after hoping he would be selected by a Victorian club.

“He told that story again this week I believe,” she says before the laughs.

“Well losing my husband (Roger) a year before (to stomach cancer aged 48) and then thinking I have lost my son in that initial second.

“But then you realise that his is an amazing dream that he wanted and one that his dad would have wanted for him.

“Look at where we are 18 years later.”

Travis was 14 and Cassie 11 when Roger was diagnosed with cancer.

He died two years later.

With the pain still raw, Travis having to move to Adelaide was tough for the family.

Cassie said it ultimately made them stronger.

“Trav and I have always been really close, and then with dad passing it was extra hard being separated during those initial years where it was still quite raw,” she said.

“And that is from my perspective, but I think looking back now it really made us stronger as a family.

“You learn to be able to connect and be there for each other no matter where you are… but at the time I was quite upset.

“It was a really tough time and we just had to adjust and find our new normal after being there for each other during that first year after dad passed away.

“We came over a lot and the club was absolutely fantastic in supporting us in doing that, flying us over so we could come to games and spend time with Travis.”

Four years separate Travis and Cassie in age.

“You wouldn’t know it, he forgets my birthday,” Cassie jokes.

“He thinks we are closer.”

Along with Cassie’s husband, Anthony Biemans, they lived together at Boak’s house.

Power teammate Sam Powell-Pepper lived with them for a period also.

Travis with his mother Chicki and sister Cassie, as well as Anthony Biemans and Sam Powell-Pepper on the red carpet at Port Adelaides Best and Fairest awards night in 2019. Picture Mark Brake

“I became the third wheel, they (Travis and Anthony) became best friends,” Cassie said.

“It was pretty natural (them living together) and gave him a chance to come home and we would just talk about whatever, whether it was footy, life or just joking around.

“It just felt like three housemates and four when Pepp moved in. I think it brought us closer together and provided him even more support away from footy.”

Cassie says Travis is “pretty clean” and he “definitely gave us a hard time if we ever left our dishes out”.

But when Covid first hit and they were stuck in Adelaide and inside, Travis’ fun loving nature came to the fore in a big way.

“Covid was a very hard time for so many people but we felt really lucky that we could just have fun and just make up so many random games and get through that hard time,” Cassie says.

“He’s really good like that, he just knows how to not take things too seriously.

“They (Travis and Anthony) made up a sort of mini-golf game but with a footy and you had to be able to get into random things within the house and how many shots you can take.

“So down the hallway they had to get it into a certain room… Trav’s hallway is quite big.

“And then there was a little golf game where they were pitching like a table tennis ball around the living room. Anything that could turn into a game inside the house they did it.”

Boak walking Cassie down the aisle last year. Picture: Captured by Georgie

Last year Travis walked Cassie down the aisle to marry Anthony at Villa Vineyard near Goolwa.

“He’s my best mate, we are really close and he’s best mates with my husband,” Cassie said.

“So it was a very special moment to have him give me away.”

Travis was also there when Cassie told Anthony that they were expecting.

“He’s so excited… he was jumping around the room,” she said.

“So yeah he was stoked.

“It will be nice hopefully with bub coming that he runs out with bub sometime this year.

“I think that will be a very special moment for all of us I think, and bub will be able to look back on it.”

That will be another special moment for the Boak’s, but first there is Sunday.

It being at the MCG does allow members of the family who have young children to be able to attend.

The 4pm local time start means that there won’t be any family event post game, other than outside of what Chicki said would be a special celebration in the MCG rooms.

“I’ll be nervous, I’ll be a mess,” she said.

“Just for him because of his achievement but also emotional. So nerves and emotional.

“There will probably be a few tears.

“Mostly because even though I know he is watching and looking down on us, his dad is not here to celebrate with us.”

Originally published as Travis Boak’s family reflect on his career ahead of game 350 against the Tigers