TRAVIS BOAK will on Sunday become the first Port Adelaide player to play 350 AFL games, joining a select group of players to reach that milestone in VFL/AFL history.
Just 22 players have played 350 games in the VFL/AFL so far with Boak to become the first since Sydney’s Lance Franklin achieved the feat last season.
Boak has long been one of the most consistent and reliable players in the competition and can lay claim to plenty of club and AFL accolades including two John Cahill Medals as club best and fairest and three All-Australian blazers.
It says a lot about his longevity that 2020 was perhaps his best year. In his 14th season at the highest level, Boak won his third All-Australian honour and finished as runner up club best and fairest and second in the top three league awards – the Brownlow Medal, APLPA MVP and AFLCA Champion Player of the Year.
Here are some numbers to help you impress your friends about the 35-year-old’s career so far:
5 – Boak was taken at pick 5 in the 2006 AFL National Draft. That year saw Port Adelaide also claim Paul Stewart (pick 23) Nathan Krakouer (pick 39), Robbie Gray (pick 55), Justin Westhoff (pick 71), Ryan Williams (pick 83) and David Rodan (pick 86) in the national draft in a hugely talented haul.
102 – Boak was the 102nd player to represent Port Adelaide at AFL level when he made his debut in a 31-point win over Essendon at Football Park in Round 12, 2007. That day Brett Ebert, Robbie Gray and Warren Tredrea each booted four goals. In 61% game time, Boak had nine disposals, two tackles and one clearance. He played 14 games for 11 wins and three losses – the final loss came in a forgettable Grand Final.
52.29 – Boak’s winning percentage in his 349 games. That number increases to 58% since 2013 when Coach Ken Hinkley became coach. Coincidentally Hinkley will share a milestone occasion on Sunday – celebrating his 250th game as coach.
135 – Boak was captain of Port Adelaide in 135 games between 2013 and 2018. In that time he wore the number 1 guernsey 134 times – giving up the iconic jumper to then eight year-old Henry Mickan as part of his long-standing ambassadorship of the Childhood Cancer Association. Boak reverted to his previous number 10 guernsey for that one game against Greater Western Sydney in 2018, before taking it back full-time after giving up the captaincy.
204 – Boak has booted 204 goals in his 349 games so far, ranking him ninth in goals in the AFL for Port Adelaide. His best individual haul was a four-goal effort against Melbourne in Round 18, 2017. His best tally for a season is the 20 goals he kicked in 2013.
174 – Boak has polled a remarkable 174 Brownlow Medal votes in his 349 games, more than any other Port Adelaide player. His best effort was 25 in 2021 when he placed seventh behind eventual Brownlow Medallist and teammate Ollie Wines, though he also polled 21 to finish runner up to Brisbane’s Lachie Neale in 2020.
10 – Boak has worn his number 10 jumper in 215 of his 349 games.
24 – Boak has played 24 games against this week’s opponent Richmond for 11 wins, one draw and 12 losses. At the MCG where the game will be played, he has played 23 times for 12 wins, one draw and 15 losses. He has played against the Crows more than any other side (30 times) and has the best winning record against Gold Coast (14 wins in 15 games).
1 – Boak ranks first overall in Port Adelaide’s AFL history for total games, kicks, handballs, disposals, tackles, inside 50s, clearances and free kicks against.
118 – Boak has played 118 games at Adelaide Oval with a 72-46 win-loss record. Football Park (73 games 34 wins), Docklands (40 games, 20 wins) and the MCG (28 games, 12 wins, one draw) are the only other venues he has played at more than 15 times.
Travis Boak
DOB: 01/08/88
Games: 349
Goals: 204
Draft: #5, 2006 AFL National Draft
Debut: Round 12, 2007 v Essendon at Football Park
AFL Honours
- All-Australian (2013, 2014, 2020)
- All-Australian nominee (2019)
- Runner-up Brownlow Medal (2020)
- Runner-up AFLPA MVP (2020)
- Runner-up AFLCA Champion Player of the Year (2020)
- Peter Badcoe Medal (2014, 2014, 2019)
- Showdown Medal (2013, 2020, 2021)
- Shanghai Medal (2018, 2019)
- Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award (2021)
- International Rules (2014, 2017)
- Rising Star nominee (Round 19, 2007)
Club Honours
- John Cahill Medal (2011, 2019)
- Runner-up Best & Fairest (2013, 2014, 2020, 2021, 2022)
- Captain (2013-18)
- Fos Williams Medal (2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
- Gavin Wanganeen Medal (2009)
- John McCarthy Award (2019, 2021)
- Life Member (2016)
- Coaches’ Award (2008)
