Boak dedicates Port Adelaide victory to teammates

PASSIONATE Port Adelaide skipper Travis Boak said he could not be prouder of his teammates who delivered a win over North Melbourne at the weekend.

Boak, who also spoke about his role supporting troubled midfielder and housemate Sam Powell-Pepper, said the Power’s win over the Kangaroos on Saturday was for teammates Todd Marshall and Hamish Hartlett. Marshall lost his father during the week and popular defender Hartlett suffered a seasonending knee injury.

“I just love this club so much. For anyone who’s been into the club or involved with the club you see how close we are and how much of a family we are,” Boak said.

“There is no doubt at times we don’t play the footy we want to, and we make mistakes, we’re human, but we will always stick together and that’s supporters and anyone involved at the club, it’s the Port Adelaide way.

“I was so proud of the boys. It’s been a really challenging week for the group, obviously starting with the news we got from Toddy and then Hamish going down. You hurt for those boys and all we could do was go out and play the footy they wanted to see and make them proud.

“Whether it’s a game of footy or something more important like family and what Toddy is going through, we stick together no matter what.”

Boak said he was mindful of the team being switched on and ready to go at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, but he need not have worried.

“I thought they were in a pretty good space, leading up to the game it still felt pretty normal after everything that had gone on,” he said. “North has been playing some really good footy.”

The captain has also been crucial in supporting Powell-Pepper, who was banned for three games by the AFL for being drunk in public and making inappropriate contact with a female at a nightclub on April 8.

“Sam is a wonderful guy,” Boak said. “He’s had a lot of heat come on him from the media or fans through social media and external stuff, it’s a lot for a 20-year-old.”