PORT ADELAIDE midfielder Travis Boak has been named the vice-captain of the All-Australian side, finishing as one of three Power representatives in the team.
Along with Boak, defender Darcy Byrne-Jones and forward Charlie Dixon were named in the side, which was announced on Thursday night.
The 40-man squad named on Tuesday was trimmed to 22 in a televised presentation on Fox Footy with Port skipper Tom Jonas and young forward Zak Butters missing out.
It is the third time Boak has been named All-Australian after previously winning the honour in 2013 and 2014.
He joins John Abley (1956, 58, 61), Robbie Gray (2014, 15, 17, 18) and Warren Tredrea (2001, 02, 03, 04) as the only Port Adelaide players to be recognised with All-Australian honours more than twice.
Boak had the added honour of being named the side’s vice-captain alongside Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield who was named captain for the first time after receiving his eighth All-Australian blazer.
It is the first time Byrne-Jonas and Dixon have been All-Australian and they are among 12 first-timers in the side.
Boak averaged 23.2 disposals per game and 5.2 clearances – both ranking him as elite amongst the competition. He also added eight goals from the midfield.
“I think I’m just enjoying my footy, that’s the most important thing,” Boak said of the secret to his strong year during the awards broadcast.
“I’m in a great place with the group I’ve got around me and I’m just enjoying being part of the place.”
Darcy Byrne-Jones has become one of Port Adelaide’s most consistent players, averaging 17.4 disposals per game off half back.
The 25-year-old is known to be hard at the ball and is rarely beaten by an opponent.
Charlie Dixon has been one of the most dominant key forwards in the competition, finishing runner-up in the Coleman Medal race with 32 goals in 16 games.
He averages 4.1 marks per game and led the competition for contested marks with 43 at an average of 2.7 per game.
During the broadcast, Dixon said getting his body right during the off-season, including working in the United States with Boak for even a few days, has played a big part in his strong year.
“It was a big thing for me over in the off-season that I wanted to make sure I had the best run at it I’ve ever had,” Dixon said.
“I was able to get that continuity in my body to make sure I was stronger and could put up with the punishment of the AFL and do it week-in week-out.
“I just want to perform for my team and be able to produce week-in, week-out.
“Anything to do with Boaky, the way he trains and the way he is on and off the field – he’s special all over – so to take a bit of him into my game has been a massive help.”
Port Adelaide was one of just four sides, along with Geelong, the Western Bulldogs and West Coast, to have three representatives in the team.
It’s the first time that has happened in the club’s history.
A total of 11 sides have been represented in the 22-man All-Australian side, with no representatives from Adelaide, Carlton, Essendon, Gold Coast, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, or Sydney.
22-man All-Australian Squad 2020
B: Brad Sheppard (West Coast Eagles), Harris Andrews (Brisbane Lions), Luke Ryan (Fremantle)
HB: Nick Haynes (GWS Giants), Darcy Moore (Collingwood), Darcy Byrne-Jones (Port Adelaide)
C: Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs), Travis Boak (Port Adelaide), Cam Guthrie (Geelong Cats)
HF: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong), Charlie Dixon (Port Adelaide), Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
F: Liam Ryan (West Coast Eagles), Tom Hawkins (Geelong), Dustin Martin (Richmond)
FOLL: Nic Naitanui (West Coast Eagles), Christian Petracca (Melbourne), Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions)
I/C: Max Gawn (Melbourne), Caleb Daniel (Western Bulldogs), Jack Steele (St Kilda), Taylor Adams (Collingwood)
Travis Boak
2013, 2014 All Australian.
Nominated also for squad member in 2019.
17 games in 2020.
394 disposals. 193 kicks, 47 marks, 201 handballs averaging 23.2 disposals, 11.4 kicks, 2.8 marks, 11.8 handballs. 88 clearances. 63 tackles. 170 contested possessions. 70 inside 50m. Eight goals. Seven behinds. 92 score involvements.
Darcy Byrne-Jones
Never previously All Australian.
17 games in 2020.
295 disposals. 183 kicks, 60 marks, 112 handballs averaging 17.4 disposals, 10.8 kicks, 3.5 marks, 6.6 handballs. 38 clearances. 116 contested possessions. 92 intercept possessions.
Charlie Dixon
Never previously All Australian.
155 disposals. 100 kicks, 65 marks (43 contested marks), 55 handballs averaging 9.7 disposals, 6.3 kicks, 4.1 marks, 3.4 handballs. 24 tackles. 114 contested possessions. 32 goals. 21 behinds. 88 score involvements.
