Travis Boak has forged a place in the hearts of the Port Adelaide faithful and earned the respect of the AFL world as a hard-working, inspirational leader who will not take a backward step as he puts everything on the line for his team.
Growing up in Torquay on Victoria’s Surf Coast, Travis Boak was drafted to the Port Adelaide Football Club in 2006 and quickly became admired and respected for his natural leadership qualities and relentless work ethic.
Debuting in 2007, he has ridden the AFL rollercoaster, tasting the excitement of an AFL Grand Final in his first season, then experiencing some testing times as the team rebuilt before re-emerging as a contender in recent seasons.
A standout performer from the outset, Boak’s desire to do anything and everything to improve saw his growth curve trend continuously upwards. Be it extra training or recovery sessions, Pilates or massages, he earned a reputation as being the ‘pro’s pro’ with his meticulous approach to getting and keeping his body in optimal condition.
Boak enjoyed a breakout 2010, polling 16 Brownlow Medal votes, then collected his first John Cahill Medal as club Best and Fairest in 2011.
A selfless team-mate, Boak’s drive and ability to get the best out of himself and those around him saw him name Captain of the club in 2013 at the tender age of 24. He thrived with the added responsibility, enjoying a career-best season as he guided his team back into the finals for the first time in six years and collected his first All-Australian blazer as one of the game’s elite midfielders.
His preparedness to do whatever his team needed and his ability to stand up in the big moments established Boak as one of the game’s most respected leaders, with his six years as skipper setting a new benchmark for Port Adelaide in the AFL era.
Returning to a primary midfield role in 2019, Boak has since peeled off three of the finest seasons of his career as he does everything in his power to help return his club to the big stage of AFL Grand Final Day and complete the unfinished business he began way back in 2007. This includes a runner up placing in the 2020 Brownlow Medal, and acknowledgement as the 2020 All-Australian Vice-Captain.
Loyal, hard-working and relentless in his pursuit of excellence, he epitomises the famous Port Adelaide spirit and will go down in club history as a modern-day great as played his 300th game and subsequently took over the club games record in 2021.
Boak has enjoyed a lifelong love affair with surfing and continues to spend as much time in the water as he can, whilst also loving all things sport and fashion. He also loves spending quality time with his family and enjoys travelling the world.
Popular in the corporate and charity worlds, Boak is an ambassador for Red Bull, Nike, Wings For Life, Childhood Cancer Association and the Roger Rasheed Sports Foundation. He has also forged a strong media presence by working with Channel 9 and Mix FM over the years.
Boak has also dabbled in the world of business himself, creating underwear brand Rogers. Named after his late father, Boak created Rogers by staying true to his own values and beliefs, by creating a label that provides a product of the highest quality without the exorbitant price tag. In a world where the emphasis is often put purely on profit, Rogers focuses on creating a company culture that inspires through its quality, innovation and being comfortable with who you are.
He is also involved in the hospitality industry as the co-owner of the Moseley Bar & Kitchen (Adelaide) and the Royal Saxon (Melbourne).
I want to be remembered as a selfless player who helped other people and as a player who helped get Port Adelaide back to where it belongs.
