Port Adelaide veterans Charlie Dixon and Travis Boak are weighing up whether it's time to retire from the game, and yet to make a call following their 2024 exit meetings.
Dixon turned 34 years old earlier in the week, and has been rumoured to be on the out for most of the season, being relatively out of form due to the rigours of AFL footy on his ageing body.
He played 18 matches this season and was set to fall out of favour toward the end of the season, until a concussion to fellow key forward Todd Marshall put Dixon back in the starting lineup.
Managing four games with at least three goals kicked in season 2024, Dixon showed he still had something to give up forward for the Power this season, but has conceded himself that he would feel settled letting the game go.
"I guess I'm just processing what it looks like for me... whether I wanna put my body and mind through another 12 months of what I went through this year," the 34-year-old toldย 10 News Adelaide.
Charlie Dixon has told 10 News First he's seriously weighing up retirement on a mammoth day at Port Adelaide. Trade requests have been locked in by Dan Houston and Ivan Soldo, while Jack Lukosius wanting a move to the Power | @PAFC @AFL @LucasRinaldo_ #AFL pic.twitter.com/k6pUGxkkfp
— 10 News First Adelaide (@10NewsFirstAdl) September 24, 2024
"If it doesn't work out and I'm not playing footy... I think I'd be happy just maybe even having a normal job and doing normal things."
36-year-old midfielder Travis Boak is the other ageing veteran with a big call to make; whether to play on into a 19th AFL season.
Boak averaged 18 disposals and five marks on the wing this season, unable to crack a star-studded midfield featuring Zak Butters, Jason Horne-Francis, Connor Rozee, Ollie Wines and Willem Drew.
He still seems capable of playing a role at the level, notably being one of Port Adelaide's best with 22 disposals and two goal-assists in their preliminary final loss top Sydney last Friday.
Coach Ken Hinkley said post-match that the call to play on in 2025 will be up to him, indicating that the club would be happy to see him return.
"It's up to me to make a decision," Boak toldย 10 News Adelaideย also.
"The whole year it's been up and down to play on and not to play on, but I've just tried to enjoy every moment."
"Is the hunger still there? The group's in a great position. Few things to think about."
Combined, Dixon and Boak boast 592 games of AFL experience.
Boak is a former captain of Port Adelaide, a three-time All-Australian and dual best & fairest.
Dixon debuted for the Power in 2016 following a five-year stint as an inaugural Gold Coast Sun. He surpassed 40 goals in three seasons and nearly reeled in a Coleman Medal in the Covid-struck 2020 campaign with 34 majors.
