Why Travis Boak is a natural as Port Adelaide captain In the first three rounds, Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak has taken his game to the next level. TRAVIS Boak is a superstar - that's what the football world will be saying before the end of the season. When Port Adelaide appointed the 24-year-old Torquay product as captain to replace veteran Dom Cassisi the inevitable question was asked: Would the pressures that come with the captaincy see him flourish or wilt? That question has quickly been answered. In the first three rounds, Boak has taken his game to the next level. Only key forward Justin Westhoff can lay claim to being as influential in the Power's 3-0 start to the year. There are two categories of captains. There are those who learn to lead and those who are born to lead. After initially believing Boak would learn and evolve into the role, I was wrong. He was definitely born to wear the famous number one jumper at Port Adelaide. While three games don't make a season, the Power's best midfielder is going from strength to strength. When the chips are down like they were in the Showdown - Port was trailing by 31 points - Boak kicked two wonderful captain's goals to turn the game on its head. And at 24, he is displaying maturity beyond his years. He has had to deal with a lot of issues for a young man. There was the tragic death of his father, his drafting to an SA club and then the tough decision last year of whether to join his hometown club of Geelong or stay at the Power. But they have made him tougher. He leaves nothing to chance, he is a gut runner who runs by the attitude, "If it's not working, I'll just work harder." He's level-headed, disciplined and loyal - as he proved when ignoring Geelong's overtures to try to lead Port's revival. Boak has also had to deal with the dreaded osteitis pubis, which restricted his leg power and ability to train. While this was taking place, Boak had to watch good mate Joel Selwood take the AFL world by storm and win three premierships with the Cats. Life has been easier for Selwood at Geelong than Boak has had it at Port. And before Cats fans get their knickers in a knot, the fact is Selwood has been afforded a luxury Boak hasn't - being surrounded by a star-studded midfield. Selwood's career began alongside Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Corey, Cameron Ling and Paul Chapman. You can't tag them all. In contrast, Boak has been the main target of opposition taggers since Shaun Burgoyne left to become a Hawk. He has had to do all of the heavy midfield lifting while being tagged most weeks. While Boak doesn't possess the bullocking frame of reigning Brownlow medallist Jobe Watson, he covers the ground as good as any gut-running midfielder out there. Two years ago, Boak won his first John Cahill Medal, tying with key defender Jackson Trengrove. That year he averaged 21.8 possessions, 10.2 contested possessions, 3.8 clearances and four inside-50s. In 2012, those numbers improved slightly. This season they have gone through the roof. Boak now sits comfortably among the competition's elite players, averaging a career-high 27.7 possessions, - including 13.7 contested, six clearances and 6.3 inside-50s. Some people will suggest that Port's midfield hasn't really been tested yet. But dig a little deeper and you will find GWS's midfield has been churning out A-grade contested ball numbers since its inception. In the Showdown, the Power smashed Adelaide in clearances and contested ball - just a season after the Crows were known as the competition's best in both categories. There is no doubt Boak's new level of performance has a lot to do with increased fitness levels and he is now pushing forward and kicking goals like the best midfielders do. Once considered more of an outside midfielder than inside, teams now realise he has the whole package. He is as comfortable at winning the hard ball as he is getting on the end of some of his teammates' good work. While I did not select any Port players in my top 50 at the start of the season, I have always maintained that developing midfield depth will help propel Boak to superstardom. And with a deeper midfield group - including vice-captain Brad Ebert, Hamish Hartlett, Matthew Broadbent, Angus Monfries - Ollie Wines and veteran Kane Cornes, stopping Boak has now become so much harder. Port's new skipper is setting the standard of what the reconditioned Power team stands for. Before long, he will be recognised as one of the AFL's most inspirational players and leaders.