PORT Adelaide midfielder Travis Boak will swap his No.10 jumper for No.1 and captain the club in 2013, an honour the new skipper says he'll "cherish forever".
The 24-year-old, who signed a two-year deal with the Power in September after months of indecision, became the club's fifth AFL captain when he took over from Dom Cassisi on Wednesday.
Boak said the captaincy wouldn't change the way he played, claiming it would be "business as usual" on game day.
"It's a great honour to be captain of this great club and have the opportunity to play a role that so many outstanding players have filled in the past," Boak said.
"Moving over here as a Victorian six years ago, not knowing much about the club and then walking in within five minutes you feel a huge part of [it].
"To be a captain of this club is something I'll cherish forever and to take over from Dom has been great … I can't thank him enough for what he's done for me and what he's done for this club."
Fellow midfielder Brad Ebert was made vice-captain, having finished runner-up in the club's best and fairest last season; his first at the Power.
Coach Ken Hinkley said that while the captaincy positions were open to every player, Boak and Ebert's leadership skills were a cut above the rest.
"We knew we had two boys who were clear – they were in front of the group, no doubt about that and that's why they sit here today," Hinkley said of the pair.
"It was, in the end, almost a very easy decision.
"I don't think we surprised (the players) with our selection, we knew that they had a strong belief in themselves about the two blokes that we've got."
The rookie coach also denied Boak's appointment had anything to do with his vital re-signing last September, basing his new level of responsibility on character and merit, not loyalty alone.
"I see it (the appointment as captain) as a reward for the type of person he is … he's a player that deserves the honour of being captain purely on what he's been able to do for the footy club," Hinkley said.
"When you elect your captain you want someone who's going to be able to be a great captain and we certainly have that in Travis.
"We expect him to lead the club now in the same way he's gone about preparing to play for the club."
Boak too denied captaincy had even been discussed during his drawn-out contract negotiations.
"It was never discussed at all, the reason I stayed at the club was because of the group and going forward is very exciting," he said.
"To be captain and a part of that was never discussed at all during that time."
Season 2013 won't be the first time Boak has captained a team; he lead his under-14 side during his junior days.
"That was probably only because Dad was coach," he joked.
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.
