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PORT Adelaide utility Paul Stewart has joined the chorus of Power players declaring their confidence that Travis Boak will remain at Alberton.
Stewart re-signed with the club for two years on Tuesday joining Matthew Broadbent, Hamish Hartlett, Domenic Cassisi and Robbie Gray as players who have re-committed in 2012.
The out-of-contract Boak is a glaring omission from the list but Stewart, a former housemate of Boak, said he thought his future was safe.
"I'm confident he'll stay, we're good mates and I'd be pretty upset if he left," Stewart said.
"Me, Robbie Gray and Cam O'Shea and him formed a real good bond so I think that plays a big role in it.
"Also his relationship with the coaches … he gets along with every single one of the coaches.
"Hopefully he makes his decision soon and puts the club at ease."
[ Related: Many reasons for Boak to stay ]
Stewart, the No. 23 pick at the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, has played 15 games in 2012; his best a four-goal effort in the Power's loss to Adelaide in round 15.
He has proven a valuable swingman in 2012, shifting from defence to play forward in the absence of Jackson Trengove and Alipate Carlile
Coach Matthew Primus praised the 25-year-old's versatility.
"His versatility and that capacity to impact on games is very handy for us and we know that with his age and the number of games he’s played, his best footy is still ahead and that stands us in good stead," Primus said.
“Paul’s very popular at our club and mixes well with all of the players and we see that attribute as being as important as his football ability.”
A shoulder reconstruction was a major setback in 2011, but Stewart has continued to develop in his sixth year in the AFL.
Despite the club's second straight poor season, Stewart said he was very happy to re-commit.
"I’ve got a lot of good friends here and I know there’s a big upside coming very soon and it’s going great to be a part of it,” Stewart said.
“I definitely want to be a part of that because there are some really, really good players coming through and I know the success will come.”
[ Related: Success close says Stewart ]
The Power have their best chance of success in recent weeks against Melbourne on Saturday night in Darwin and, despite the lack of rain, the humidity is expected to make it as slippery as wet-weather footy.
But Stewart said that would suit the Power, who defeated Carlton earlier in the year in soggy conditions at AAMI Stadium.
"It's a wet weather game and it definitely brings the odds closer together," he said.
"I think we play pretty well in wet weather, we beat Carlton this year in that sort of weather and hopefully we can do the same thing again."
