RECORD-BREAKER Travis Boak is set to become the first Port Adelaide player to play 350 AFL games when he steps onto the MCG this Sunday. 

The 35-year-old has enjoyed a decorated individual career, with three All-Australian blazers (2013, 2014 and 2020), two John Cahill Medals (2011, 2019) and a Brownlow Medal runner-up (2020) to his name.  

The full transcript from Boak’s press conference is below, after he faced the media on Wednesday ahead of the historic milestone match. 

What does 350 games mean to you? 
“I mean, it's a great honour to represent this footy club for such a long period of time. And yes, 350 game sounds like a lot, it doesn't at this stage feel like a lot for some reason, it's kind of all blended in. I think I'll look back on it, post career and, and be really proud of being able to put on this Port Adelaide jumper for such a long period of time. But I've been so lucky to have so much support along the way. I wouldn't be playing this weekend, 350, without so much support from the footy club, my family and friends and yeah, it's a great honour. 

There's not many that have done it but some of those that have obviously done it across multiple clubs, how much more does it mean that you've been able to do it all here?  
“Yeah, a lot. I think Mum and Dad certainly raised me to be a loyal person. And that's certainly a value I've tried to hold pretty close and, and when Port Adelaide drafted me as a young kid, you know, they took a chance on me and we've been through a lot of down times, and certainly some good times as well and hopefully we continue to rise. But yeah, it's been a great journey to be a part of this footy club. Such a rich history and I’ve loved every minute of being a Port Adelaide footballer for sure.”  

When you were weighing up what to do at the end of last year, I'm sure milestones aren't the be-all-and-end-all but being so close to 350, was that any sort of extra carrot to play on? 
“Nah, not at all. Didn't really cross my mind at all. It was it was more about how much more could I give to this footy club and this group and I still felt like I had some left to help this club and this playing group go forward to reach that ultimate goal. And we want to bring back that premiership cup to this footy club and this fan base and I wanted to still be a part of that and felt like I still have more to give.” 

Even though you had to make that decision in the back end of last year, do you think you'll be in the same position at the end of this year? Is it safe to say that you think this will be your last year of the club?  
“Those conversations and those thoughts will continue to go through my head. There's no doubt that's what happens when you get closer towards the end. And yeah, that's why you got to have those people close to you to have those conversations. And yeah, there's no doubt that this year will be another one where we'll discuss that as the year goes on. But we're in round two, and there's still plenty more to go.” 

You mentioned your parents and loyalty. I know you’ve spoken about this before, but how much did your head turn when Geelong came to town and really kind of tried to sell a move back to Geelong and what went through your mind as you reflect on 350, that was that's a bit of a sliding doors moment, how close was the decision? 
“Very close. Like it was a big decision to make and it was one that took a fair bit of time to sort of process all the information. Go back home, be closer to family and be part of the Geelong Footy Club, which is a great club and was going well, obviously at the time, we weren't going so well. But there was just so much here that, you know, myself, Robbie, Jacko, a lot of players didn't want to walk away from. We were in well entrenched in this club and wanted to try and move forward. That in the end was why I wanted to stay to help make these club better again and get back up the ladder and certainly along with those other boys and my mum and my family. We were really happy with that decision.” 

And speaking of family, when you lost your dad when you were younger before being drafted, it must have been a really hard thing to move states and I suppose reflecting 350 games later, it must be pretty special to reach that achievement but also it must have been really hard at the time to move away from family and what was home. 
“Yeah 100 per cent. Like that was for sure one of the hardest things I've ever had to do and it's a tricky one I mean, as a young footballer growing up all you want to do is play AFL and at that stage being in Torquay, I thought it would be nice to stay in Victoria. But to just get drafted was amazing. And I still remember the day, sitting at home and listening…mum knew my number and she swore as soon as I got read out because I was coming over here (to SA) and she left the room and come back and realised that my dream to play AFL just was achieved. She was quite over the moon after that initial outburst, I guess. It was, for sure, a big challenge but as time’s gone on, you reflect and learn and remember how much I've learned from dad and mum and all the times they take you to footy growing up or cricket and just being there to support, I think that was biggest thing that, you sort of take away from them. It's just the times that they're just there to support you along the way. And that's why this weekend is more about them and those that have been along for the journey that have helped me get here. There's no way I'd be out playing there this weekend without that support along the way.” 

South Australia, what does this state mean to you? Does it feel like home? 
“Yeah 100 per cent. It's become a home away from home, that's for sure. I never thought I'd be here for so long, for 18 years. I think when I got drafted, I was like, yeah, two years and then probably go back to Victoria. For a lot of our guys especially coming from Victoria, SA has become home and whether you're down on the coast or you're close to the city, a lot of the boys are spread out, it's just become a really good place to live. And certainly the footy club has been a great place to be a part of, and we have created our own home over here, being from interstate. And so it's been a beautiful place to live. The surf’s still too far away but we deal with that, and the golf courses are nice!” 

Ken touched on it post-game, I’m not sure if it was tongue in cheek, but he said you were the man who saved Port Adelaide. If you left we were aware of the wider ramifications of that call? 
“Probably not. I think I knew the club, we were struggling as a footy club and you know, whether you're struggling in life as an individual or you're struggling in business or wherever it is, the only way to get through it, is to go through it and not leave that situation. And that's kind of what we did, we just had to push through it and we had to change things. Ken came in, new fitness staff came in, some guys signed on, and we just had to work our way through it and fortunately enough we started to turn things around. We started to continue to push forward. The Adelaide Oval (redevelopment) came along and you know, the club's in a better position. But you get to those situations in life, whether it's in business or in individual life, that the only way through a tough situation is to go through it.” 

How much do you share that experience with some of the other interstate boys? It’s such a great culture of players staying. That story, how many times have you told that to players? 
“I think it's been a continued story, whether it's from myself or Ollie who's come in who's been in a challenging situation as well, living interstate and all the chatter around that and then it's continued on with Zak and other players. This footy club is, is a great place to be, SA is a great place to be. Football is a small part of our life and how can we make it more enjoyable at this footy club and make it a family club for guys to want to stay here? And I think we've done a pretty good job of that over the years. That's not only the Vic guys, but the SA guys and WA guys, all around Australia that have come here to make this place the way it is. And it's not just the players, it's the coaching staff, the support staff, the people all over the club and the fans that have just made it a place that players want to come and play here.” 

When would you say South Australia started to feel like home for you? 
“Probably when I started having a bit of family move over. But I think to be honest, it was probably around the decision I made to stay in 2012 that, you know, I wanted to be here long term. Before that it was always two-year deals, not knowing what was going to go on. But after that it was okay, this is home. And yeah, sort of settled in, built a house and it's become a great place to live.” 

How well placed are you to win a premiership this year?  
“Look, I think right now we've had the pre-season to give ourselves a great chance. We've added some pieces to give ourselves a great chance. And you know, that's all we can do in terms of this stage, and now it comes down to putting those things in a place on game day. There's no doubt we're going to face challenges throughout the year. But I think we're certainly well placed to give ourselves a really good chance and we're going to come up against some great sides this year. We've already seen already that it's pretty tough competition with Collingwood and Brisbane going zero and two after being in the granny that there's some sides on the rise. Everything's got to go right for us but I think we're well placed and our side’s in a really good position to give it a red-hot crack.”  

And you have a shiny new wingman as well! How are you enjoying that? 
“It’s been good. I think last year I didn't train there all pre-season and just sort of went there at the start of the year with some cracked ribs which doesn't help as well but to train there all pre-season and to learn basically where I started back in ‘07 to come back to that role. It's very different to an inside mid role, you’ve got to learn a few new things. And it's been really good to learn that over the pre-season. Carry’s (Josh Carr) been fantastic along with Kenny and the rest of the mids group. And yeah, it's good fun to be out there with our exciting midfield, that's for sure.” 

How close were you to not coming back this year? 
“Honestly, I don't think it was very close. I was pretty committed to continue to go on and there's no other place I'd rather be than here.” 

Was it always in your hands? 
“I think so, yeah. We had discussions during the year with Kenny and Chris Davies and they've been amazing support for me and to give me that opportunity to make a decision, I'm incredibly grateful for that. And hopefully I can repay this year with a good season and hopefully bring back a premiership cup for this footy club.” 

You made a grand final in your first season and obviously haven't played in one since. Did it take you a while to realise how hard they are to actually make it? 
“Bloody oath it is! I think I walked out of the ’07 season going ‘okay, this is not too bad, getting to a granny in your first year.’ And yeah, to not experience that again has been challenging. We've been close a few times. But yeah, it's a bloody hard one to win.” 

Making finals last year, how much does that drive the team and you personally? 
“It’s huge. I think, to be so close and have our group to be right there is great, but then where can we continue to get better to, to push right to the end. Because obviously, to make finals to then go, you know, to top four to top two, to win a granny, there's still some big steps to take. We've obviously put some pieces in place to try and do that and now's the chance to implement that in-game. We've given ourselves the best chance to do it this year and the drive is 100 per cent there. And I think if you watch the way Zak and Connor led on the weekend, and what they've been doing all pre-season long with the young guys, these boys are taking the club forward in the right direction and with the right attitude. For us senior guys to then come behind and support that, there's a huge amount of energy and motivation to continue to improve and give us those chances.” 

Speaking of those young leaders, how do you reflect on your time as captain and what it meant to you in hindsight to wear that number one and also to pass it on to the next generation?  
“Yeah, there's no doubt that's been one of the highlights of my career in terms of what I've been proud to do and really grateful to do for this footy club, is to wear that number one jumper. That rich history of the players that have represented this footy club wearing that number has been something that I’ll hold close to my heart forever, for sure. And there's no doubt that then passing on what I've learned from the likes of Dom (Cassisi) and Tredders (Warren Tredrea), to TJ (Tom Jonas) and then on to Connor, and then he'll pass it on, is what it's about. It's not about you being this great captain, but what you learn to then pass on to someone else. And then you can leave it in good hands again, and I think we're in a great place with Connor taking over.” 

Just on your milestone, I'm sure you'd love to be playing at Adelaide Oval in front of your fans but how does getting to run out of the ‘G compare?  
“Yeah, Adelaide Oval in front of our fans would be amazing. If there was anywhere after that it would be the ‘G in Victoria, obviously with family close by. I think I'll put in a request for a few tickets this weekend. And that'll be nice to have them there and to thank them for everything they've given me but yeah, hopefully at some stage I’ll get a chance to thank the supporters as well at Adelaide Oval.” 

And do we do this again in two years for game 400? 
“We'll have to just take it as it comes at the moment, but 400, it’s a long way away! We'll see how we go.”