There is zero doubt or hesitation in the Port Adelaide heartland when asked, “how much does Travis Boak mean to Port Adelaide.”
One of the purest symbols of a club legend, he stayed true to Alberton through the highs and the lows and always led from the front.
While some footballers who play in South Australia tend to fly under the radar, it is clear Boak was not one of them, and his leadership is synonymous throughout the league.
Which is why it is not a surprise Carlton wasted no time in luring him over, and they even created a new role just for him.
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“(Mind work and development has) probably been an advancement in the game,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast this morning.
“Getting inside the players’ minds - that’s essentially what ‘Boaky’ is going to try to do (at Carlton), giving them an edge when it comes to preparing your body but also your mind.”
Boak will be joining Michael Voss and many other familiar faces as part of an entirely revamped coaching panel, with Boak focusing on strengthening the mind.
It is part of a brand-new role developed just for Boak, as he will 'work closely with the Club’s playing group and wider football department three days a week on leadership and cultural development'.
“Boak has been a big advocate for that and going out the AFL sphere to get some improvements in his performance," Cornes said.
"He has spoken to extreme sports guys before and those in the leadership areas, so he has done a lot of work in that on himself. I think he’s going to take that knowledge into the next club,”
“Bringing quality into your football club is what it’s about. Travis Boak is quality, and the more quality people you can have in your football team and around the place, the better.”