2011 Preseason Coverage
Boak, 22, battled groin issues last season and was placed on a modified training program at the start of the pre-season.
Power fitness coach Cam Falloon said Boak had only just graduated to full-scale training when he suffered the appendix attack.
"He's not too far away, but we want to give him a little bit of a modified program before he returns to the full training load," Falloon told afl.com.au. "I'd expect him to be back in full training by mid January."
Second-year defender Andrew Moore and new recruit Simon Phillips will also be placed on modified programs in the new year as they recover from surgery.
Moore overcame a bout of osteitis pubis to play seven games in his first season at the club, but was booked in for an adductor release when the pain failed to subside.
Phillips, who arrived at Alberton with a fractured jaw, has had arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder and Falloon said the small forward would not be available for selection until round one.
"Simon will be slow in his recovery. He'll be out of his sling next week, but he's a couple of months away," Falloon said.
"Andrew will also have a slow introduction and should be back training with the group in February."
Forwards Cameron Hitchcock and Daniel Stewart also had shoulder surgery in the off-season, but Falloon said both were on track to play in round one.
"Cam Hitchcock and Daniel Stewart have been doing most training, but not full contact," he said.
"They'll be back into full-contact training by mid-to-late January and should be ready and available to play by the middle of the NAB Cup."
Small forward Brett Ebert, who had LARS surgery after injuring his knee against Melbourne in round 21, is also preparing for a return to full-contact training.
Ebert joined his teammates in non-contact drills prior to Christmas and will be eased into full-scale training when the players return in January.
Midfielder David Rodan was forced to have a second LARS procedure on his knee last month after the original ligament failed.
Rodan walked laps of Alberton Oval on Monday and was progressing quickly according to Falloon.
"The interesting thing about having the LARS surgery done a second time is that you don't find it as invasive as the first time around and it's quicker for him to get back on his feet," Falloon said.
"He's feeling quite confident. As a player you know how you felt the first time round and he's already said he's feeling a lot better the second time round.
"We'll take a conservative approach, but with the view that he'll be up and going by halfway through February and available - all things going well - by round one."
In all, 11 Power players have had surgery since the end of last season and Falloon said the club's biggest challenge would be integrating the players back into training in the new year.
"We've had a pretty good build up to Christmas, but we've had a fairly substantial group of guys who have had post-season surgery," he said.
"So while we're going to have a really big January and have positioned ourselves to do so, we've got to be mindful that those players are just coming back into the fold after surgery and we've got to be careful we don't break those guys down."
