PORT ADELAIDE coach Ken Hinkley and Travis Boak held a press conference on Friday to announce Boak would step aside as captain of the club.

On Friday morning, Boak told his teammates of his decision, suggesting it was time for a new leader and a new voice.

Boak used the press conference to explain his reasoning and to describe how much it meant to him to captain Port Adelaide.

Hinkley thanked Boak for being a strong leader and driving standards as the only captain he has had since becoming Port Adelaide’s coach.

Travis Boak on why he is stepping down now:

“Six years in the job now and I think there comes a point where it’s time. I think it’s a perfect time now to hand it over. I’ve absolutely loved leading this great club. I came into this club as an 18, 19 year-old just happy to play a game and to captain this great club for six years is a huge honour and something that I’ll cherish forever – but there always comes a point in time when it’s time to hand it on and this is the perfect time because I think the group’s in a good place to move forward with whoever comes next.”

Travis Boak on being the club’s longest serving AFL captain:

“It’s probably something I’ll think about more once I’ve finished, there’s no doubt about that, but it is pretty special. Putting on that number one guernsey for the first time, running out at AAMI Stadium, it was a special moment. I said to the boys this morning that I never saw myself as a leader when I first came to the club or growing up but to get the call into Kenny’s office – I think it was about nine o’clock one night and he said I would captain the club – like I was blown away and it is truly something special. To captain the most games is something I’ll cherish – it’s a real privilege to wear the number one guernsey, there’s no doubt about that.”

Travis Boak on not being captain going forward:

“As captain you want to be making sure that your message is getting across well enough the whole time and I think right now is time for a new voice. My role is not going to chance a whole lot – I’m going to have a zero next to the one on my jumper but I’m still going to help whoever is next and I think it’s a perfect opportunity for that person to take over. It does take a bit of a load off your shoulders… so I’ll take a step back but try to help as much as I can in that leadership space.”

 

Ken Hinkley on the decision to appoint Travis Boak captain when he first arrived at the club in 2012:

“When you’re a first-time coach and you come to a club, one of the big decisions you’ve got to make is who is going to lead the football club. I leant on this fella and said ‘Trav, we want you to be captain of this great footy club’, now that’s a very very big decision for us to take on, or for me to take on and I was going ‘gee, I don’t know much about Travis Boak to be honest, other than what his teammates thought of him’ and sure that’s a good recommendation. But in six years’ time I know a lot about Travis Boak and can say one thing, I made a very very good decision.”

Ken Hinkley on selecting the next captain:

“I think there’s a great opportunity for three-three and a half months for whoever the replacement might be, it’s a big job, it’s a big person that you’re replacing so to see some growth in some individuals, I’m sure will be exciting for Trav to watch but also for us to watch. I think it’s a perfect time, it’s about the club and we’re making some change so we think this is a really good time for that to continue.”

Ken Hinkley on what he expects out of his next captain:

“I’m looking for a bloke that’s really similar to Travis Boak. He’s just so reliable with everything he does, on the field and off it. If I gave you a diary of what he does in the off-season, it’d be about improving himself, improving the club even though he’s supposed to be having a holiday. That’s what Trav does and that’s what we want the new person to do – to be that person who sets standards and we want to have really high standards.”

More on portadelaidefc.com.au...