WHEN Travis Boak threw on a Port Adelaide jumper for the first time back in 2007, the last thing he was probably thinking was how many games he would clock up in his AFL career.
Now, a decade later, he plays his 200th game in one of the least hospitable environments for his football club – the SCG, a ground the Power has not won at since 2006.
That’s probably why he isn’t too interested in talk about his personal milestone – he wants the team to put paid to a long drought in the harbour city.
“Round 1 is finally upon us now and I think it’s been a great pre-season from our group,” Boak said this week.
“We’re really excited to get up to Sydney, it’s going to be a great challenge for us.”
Poised to become the Power’s longest-serving captain against the Lions at the Gabba, Boak’s leadership is unquestioned.
Despite a self-described down season last year, his focus is firmly on leading Port into battle on Saturday.
And the name of the game is defence, defence, defence.
That’s where the game will be won in Boaky’s book and there’s no better team to test that against than the Swans – arguably the competition’s most defensive club in the last decade.
“In all sports, and certainly our game, if you bring your best defensive game, the rest will take care of itself," reckons the skipper.
“For sure, we have some offensive weapons, but that will come off our defensive work, and that’s something that all 22 blokes need to bring.”
So given his big milestone this weekend isn’t a big priority for the Port skipper, when does he expect to reflect on his achievement of becoming just the second man to crack the double century in Power colours?
“Maybe after the game [I’ll think about it], mum will probably bring it up, and at the end of my career I’ll probably look back at it and how special it is,” Boak said.
“But this week is Round 1, it’s a big game and that’s all I’m focussed on.
“It’s something I’ll be able to tell the grand kids.”
That’s a long, long way away.
But Port supporters are probably glad the only milestone their skipper is interested in is a Round 1 win in Sydney…
