PORT ADELAIDE midfielder Travis Boak has had a career-best year in 2019, and it has been on the back of move back into the centre of the ground.
Boak has averaged 32 disposals a game this season compared to just under 24 throughout his career, and has had 30+ touches on 13 occasions to date.
The former skipper says he was excited when he was moved back into the midfield group during the pre-season.
“I won’t lie, I was pretty excited,” Boak told Garry Lyon and Tim Watson on SEN Breakfast in Melbourne.
“It didn’t happen until probably the mid-point of the pre-season. I was still training as a forward and doing a little bit on-ball.
“When Ollie (Wines) hurt his shoulder, they wanted to move another on-baller in there and from there, that’s where I did most of my work.
“I was fortunate enough to get in some form over the pre-season and I’m just enjoying the role back in the midfield.”
The 31-year-old has been frustrated with his side’s inconsistency throughout the year, but says the group has a great opportunity to finish the year strongly.
“We have a really good opportunity this weekend against Sydney,” Boak said.
“We have changed a few little things around, and we have continued to stay really positive throughout the year.
“We have a really good chance to finish off the year on a really good not, and hopefully go on to finals.”
Boak was full of praise for the Power’s first pick in last season’s draft Connor Rozee, saying his versatility will be a real weapon for the club in the future.
“He’s been outstanding,” he said.
“We saw that straight away from day one. He’s just got that x-factor. He can play any position on the ground.
“He played a lot at half-back for North Adelaide. He’s played a little on-ball for us. And obviously he has dominated games up forward as well.
“He basically took the game away from Essendon in the first quarter. He’s so explosive, which is what we are used to seeing Robbie (Gray) do.
“To have him grow and learn from Robbie is pretty outstanding.”
The Power host Sydney on Saturday afternoon at Adelaide Oval, with the first bounce at 1.40pm ACST.
