TRAVIS BOAK has won the John Cahill Medal at Port Adelaide’s 2019 Best and Fairest event.

The 31-year-old polled 179 votes to finish 11 clear of runner up Darcy Byrne-Jones, who was a vote ahead of third-placed Dan Houston.

Boak took the lead in the vote count after the round 2 win over Carlton and was never headed, despite polling just six votes in his last three games, to claim his second John Cahill Medal in front of around 900 people at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

It’s the second time Boak has claimed the award, following his joint win with former defender Jackson Trengove in 2011, making him just the fourth person to win multiple John Cahill Medals.

Boak polled in 20 of the side’s 22 games including six best on ground performances, showing remarkable consistency during the 2019 campaign.

He was also the club’s highest polling player in last week’s Brownlow Medal count.

The former skipper thrived in a return to the midfield in 2019, remaining an on-field leader despite giving up the captaincy.

Boak said the second time around, the award probably meant more to him.

“There’s been a lot of people write me off the last two or three years and say I shouldn’t even be in the side ,” Boak said to the huge crowd.

“It’s not nice to hear those things, they certainly hurt a little but for me it’s about going out there and just trying to be the best person, the best player you can be and that’s all I can do.

“This footy club is amazing and everyone who walks into it is a special person – this group is no different.

“There’s some serious talent in this group and I can’t wait to spend, hopefully, the next four or five years with the club. We’ve done some important things in the last couple of years in building connection and this group can enjoy what Richmond did and have some success in the future.”

Boak thanked the volunteers and staff at the club while he also credited coaches, teammates as well as club supporters and his family.

It was a big night for Boak with the veteran taking home three awards in total. He collected the Fos Williams Medal as the best team man as voted by his teammates, and was also recognised with the John McCarthy Award for community service for his decade of work with the Childhood Cancer Association.

In the other AFL award categories, first-year forward Connor Rozee claimed the Gavin Wanganeen Award as the best player under 21 and Darcy Byrne-Jones took home the Coaches’ Award as most improved.

2019 John Cahill Medal TOp 10 Leaderboard

TOTAL 1 BOAK 179 2 BYRNE-JONES 168 3 HOUSTON 167 4 ROZEE 131 5 CLUREY 130 5 JONAS 130 7 ROCKLIFF 114 8 BURTON 113 9 DUURSMA 111 10 R. GRAY 110

Other AFL award winners

Fos Williams Medal (best team man)

Travis Boak

Gavin Wanganeen Award (best player under 21)

Connor Rozee

Coaches’ Award (most improved)

Darcy Byrne-Jones

John McCarthy Award (for community service)

Travis Boak

SANFL AWARD WINNERS

A.R. McLean Medal (best & fairest)

Jack Trengove

Runner-up

Willem Drew and Peter Ladhams

Fos Williams Memorial Trophy (most dedicated)

Sam Mayes

Best Finals Player

Cam Sutcliffe

Anthony Williams Memorial Trophy (most courageous)

Joel Garner

Max Porter Memorial Trophy (most consistent)

Trent McKenzie

Bruce Weber Memorial Trophy (best team man)

Jack Strange

Leading goalkicker

Billy Frampton (34 goals)

Bob Clayton Award

John Settre