Travis Boak, Eamon and his family pose for a photo recently at Alberton. Image: Matt Sampson.

PORT ADELAIDE midfielder Travis Boak has been announced as a finalist in the Tom Hafey Variety Heart of Football Award.

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 14 years.

03:11

It is the second time Boak has been a finalist for the award, having missed out to Carlton’s Adam Saad in 2021.

Former Port Adelaide defender Jack Hombsch is a previous winner of the award.

The other finalists this year are Brodie McLaughlin from Gold Coast, Darcy Vescio from Carlton and Kate Darby from Geelong.

The winner will be announced at Variety’s Grand Final Lunch on September 27.

Boak’s volunteer work with the childhood Cancer Association was previously recognised in 2021 with the coveted Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.

Variety SA is a Showdown partner of the Port Adelaide Football Club and a supporter of the club’s longest running in-school program, the Community Youth Program.