Boak, who signed a contract extension during the week, was named in the Power’s 22-man team to take on the Dogs but failed to board the plane to the Top End on Friday morning.
Harding has struggled for form at times this season, spending several weeks in the West Adelaide reserves, but caretaker coach Matthew Primus said the 24-year-old had earned a recall.
“Trav got crook Tuesday. We thought he’d get better, but he hasn’t got better at all and Scotty Harding will come into the team,” Primus said on Friday.
“Scotty has played the last two or three weeks in the seniors for West Adelaide and he played NAB Cup for us, so he hasn’t been too far away. He’s an extra onballer we can bring in with Travis out.”
Full-back Alipate Carlile will also miss Primus’ first game as head coach with a back injury.
Primus could have used Carlile’s absence as a means to justify the selection of out-of-form defender Chad Cornes in brother Kane’s 200th match, but the former midfield mentor held his nerve and sent the decorated veteran back to the SANFL.
Primus said the club was also wary of going in too tall against a Bulldogs side which will be without full-forward Barry Hall (ankle) and possibly also star defender Brian Lake (illness).
“Chad hasn’t been in the greatest form. Bobby [Carlile] is a little bit sore and we just think match-up wise that we needed some more smalls down in defence if the Bulldogs go that way,” Primus said.
“Chad understands he wasn’t in great form and I told him earlier in the week that he wouldn’t be playing for us this weekend. If he goes back with a great attitude and gets back into some form with Glenelg then he’s a big chance to come back into our team.”
Experienced onballer Josh Carr was also cut from the team, but is likely to fly to Darwin as an emergency on Saturday morning.
The game against the Dogs will be Primus’ first audition for the club’s vacant senior coaching position.
The popular club figure is considered one of the favourites to take over from former coach Mark Williams next season, with comparisons already being made to Paul Roos’ appointment at the Sydney Swans in 2002.
Former Bulldogs coach Terry Wallace was expected to take over from the ousted Rodney Eade but Roos, who was appointed as interim coach, won the role after a groundswell of support.
Primus said he didn’t expect to be awarded Port Adelaide’s top job based solely on his popularity.
“Roosy was able to win some games too. Maybe, [his appointment] had something to do with the supporters but I’ll continue to be the way I have been since I’ve been at the club,” Primus said.
“If that rings a bell with the supporters so be it and if it doesn’t I’ll work on that. It goes without saying that if you can get the supporters on board it certainly helps you, and we’re all about doing that.”
