PORT ADELAIDE midfielder Travis Boak has been named as a runner-up in the Tom Hafey Variety Heart of Football Award, announced on Wednesday.
The award acknowledges a current AFL or AFLW player who has inspired Variety the Children’s Charity through his or her selfless actions and dedication to children.
It is named in honour of Tom Hafey who played and coached more than 550 games at various clubs before inspiring thousands of school children with his community work.
Boak was nominated for his work with the Childhood Cancer Association, which has seen him visiting hundreds of children and their families dealing with cancer and helping the association with its annual fundraising targets for more than eleven years.
While his former teammate Jack Hombsch is a previous winner of the award, Boak just missed out on joining him on the winner’s list.
The Power midfielder and Geelong’s Georgie Rankin were named as runner-up to Carlton’s Adam Saad.
Saad has been running a program for children from diverse backgrounds, educating them to focus on culture, religion and identity before becoming good footballers.
Saad receives $2000 to present to the charity of his choice.
It’s the latest recognition for Boak’s community work. At Sunday’s Brownlow Medal count, he was awarded the coveted Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award and $40,000 to donate to the Childhood Cancer Association.
Variety SA is a Showdown partner of the Port Adelaide Football Club and a supporter of the club’s longest running program, the Community Youth Program.
