Alan Didak Biography

Nick Maxwell and fan favourite Alan Didak have been made life members of the Magpies at the club's annual general meeting.

Ben Johnson opens up on the relationship between Collingwood's 'Rat Pack' and coach Nathan Buckley.

The 'Rat Pack' comprised of several Magpies players namely Johnson, Dane Swan, Alan Didak and Heath Shaw.

"Me and 'Dids' were coming to the end of our careers anyway. Heath was traded (to Greater Western Sydney), which was a bit of a shock, but that's the game," Johnson said.

"Bucks has always got along really well with us. Me and Dids probably played a hundred games with him as our captain, and we had a good relationship with him.

"Bucks was certainly grumpier on the field than as a coach. He's a pretty tame coach, he keeps his head, and he's very approachable. Bucks' door is always open to every player.

"If there was ever an issue, we'd talk about it like grown men. Exactly the same as I did with Mick (Malthouse). I've had arguments with both – more with Mick – but we'd work it out."

The careers of delisted Magpies Alan Didak and Darren Jolly look over after neither player was selected in the pre-season or rookie drafts.

Delisted Magpie Alan Didak meets with GWS in the hopes of reviving his AFL career as a delisted free agent with the Giants.

GWS confirm that they will not be picking up delisted Magpie Alan Didak as a delisted free agent or in the pre-season draft.

Brodie Grundy will take over Alan Didak's No.4 jumper in 2014.

"After this year I knew I had to change numbers from No. 35 (worn by the club's first selection in the NAB AFL Draft each year) and I knew the No.4 was available," Grundy said.

"I liked No.4 and No.7 but I decided to go with No.4 because that was the first basketball number that I wore, so I thought I'd start my sporting career on a number and then finish on the same one."

Alan Didak's manager, Adam Ramanauskas, says his client will move anywhere to continue his AFL career.

"He'd be prepared to move anywhere, he just wants to play," Ramanauskas said.

"Dids would finish off a forward line very well. He could still kick 30 or 35 goals as one of those high half-forwards and his ball use is still right up there.

"It's just a club that really needs that type of player."

Alan Didak and Andrew Krakouer join Darren Jolly and Jordan Russell as Magpie delistings.

Didak, in particular, says he is still keen to continue his career at another club.

"I've had an incredible time at Collingwood. We won a lot of games, won a premiership and I met some lifelong friends," Didak said.

"I've got a lot to be thankful for and I know I'm going to miss playing in front of the black and white army. I owe them a lot. But I'm not ready for retirement."

Collingwood assistant coach Nigel Lappin says Alan Didak has been a great addition since fighting his way back into the side late in the season.

"Since he has come back in, Didak has provided real energy and enthusiasm to the boys out on the ground. He has had to work hard to get back in, but I think that has made him really hungry," Lappin said.

"The crowd goes berserk when he gets on the field and you can't deny that is a lift for our players as well."

Alan Didak makes an impact as a substitute in his first game back in the side since round 11, gathering 15 disposals in less than a half against West Coast.

"The players have a real affinity for 'Dids', he's given so much to this football club for a long period of time," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said.

"I'm not the sentimental type – 'Dids' earned his opportunity tonight, and there were a few injuries that gave him that opportunity as well as his form through the VFL."

Alan Didak signals his intention to play on past 2013 via Twitter.

"Reports that I've retired are incorrect. Still have passion 2 play and can assure you I'm very keen to continue my AFL career beyond this yr (year)," Didak tweeted.

Nathan Buckley dismisses suggestions a group of senior players called the "brat pack" are agitating against cultural change.

The group includes players such as Dane Swan, Ben Johnson, Alan Didak and Heath Shaw who have reportedly resisted moves to become more disciplined on and off the field.

"I don't think there is enough credit given to those (senior) players," Buckley said.

"They have been successful performers over a long period of time. They are great footballers, they are great team men, they want to be part of a successful environment. I think the supposition that they are on one road and the rest of the club is on another is totally false. It's not fair on them."

Alan Didak appears likely to miss Round 1 because of a hamstring strain.

Collingwood midfielder Dale Thomas has backed teammate Alan Didak to have an impact in the remainder of 2012.

"He hasn't had a great run with injuries so for him to get back, he's been a vital part of our team for the past few years and hopefully he can give us some excitement come Saturday night," Thomas said.

"I think for anyone that knows Alan, he's certainly not lacking confidence. He understands his football ability, and everyone who's seen him play knows exactly what he can do.

"He's knows he's put in the hard work and now it's hopefully time for him to get some results."

Magpies confident Alan Didak can still feature in 2012 despite scans revealing a complete tear of his adductor muscle against Melbourne.

"Alan previously had a partial tear that was a consequence of the injury he suffered in the pre-season. With the muscle being completely torn away it will allow a full attachment to take place that will not require surgery," Collingwood's director of football Geoff Walsh said.

"The advice is that the healing and rehabilitation process will not keep Alan sidelined for as long as he was in the pre-season. It's very much a short to medium term injury. We're confident that he won't be out for as long as he was last time"

Collingwood has received some welcome news, with Alan Didak getting through a VFL hit-out on Saturday.

"You can train as much as you want, but once you start to play matches it's a completely different fitness," Didak said.

"I felt pretty good, I blew up a couple of times, but the main thing is I got through it."

Forward Alan Didak trained with Collingwood on Thursday, but is not in contention to face Hawthorn and will instead play in the VFL.

Collingwood midfielder Alan Didak will miss the entire NAB Cup and possibly the start of the season after tearing his adductor at a training session.

"It's extremely frustrating and disappointing to be sidelined for a few weeks, but hopefully I can recover well, get back and play some good footy in the early part of the season," Didak said.

Alan Didak, Steele Sidebottom and Ben Reid have all signed new deals with Collingwood.

Alan Didak says he has never considered plying his trade anywhere else except Collingwood after signing a new deal with the club that will see him finish his career at the Magpies.

"I think every player wants to stay at the same club where they started ... it definitely matters for me," he said.

"I just wanted to get my manager to speak to the club. We had early talks with Collingwood and it's finally come to a decision. I've always wanted to stay here. I never considered going to another club."

Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell says Alan Didak has shown how damaging he can be, even when an opponent tries to put him off his game.

"Dids gets tagged every single week, and everyone tries to get under his skin," Maxwell said.

"I'd be very surprised if he wasn't All-Australian [this year] ... just the way he's matured over the last few years with those roles. When someone's really getting under your skin and tagging you hard, he's just shown he can still be a very good player."

St Kilda will lodge a formal complaint to the AFL after a spiteful quarter-time clash during their game against Collingwood game.

Magpies coach Mick Malthouse and forward Alan Didak were allegedly involved in an exchange of words with Saints forward Stephen Milne during the fraca.

"I would think now we are going to make a formal complaint, and it being investigated, I would think that the players involved and the club will do everything they can to be honest and give the right information so that it all comes out," St Kilda midfielder Leigh Montagna told Triple M.

Twenty players from Richmond and Collingwood have been charged with engaging in a melee by the AFL match review panel.

Jake King, in particular, has accepted a two-match suspension after being found guilty of striking Collingwood's Alan Didak.

Collingwood assistant coach Brad Scott praises Alan Didak for keeping his cool despite constant niggling from Tiger Jake King.

King's attempts to unsettle Didak followed Hawk Ben McGlynn's efforts a few weeks ago when McGlynn was able to get under the forward's skin in Collingwoods loss to Hawthorn.

"Everyone highlighted the fact that McGlynn got under his skin against Hawthorn, and we knew Richmond would try and do the same to him again today," Scott said after the match.

"He responded brilliantly. We were rapt with his efforts both offensively and defensively, and to hold his nerve under pressure.

"Today he was completely in control of every situation. Players tried to get under his skin, it didn't affect him, and the game was played on his terms and our terms."

On the verge of playing his 150th match, Collingwood's Alan Didak says he has left his past off-field indiscretions behind him.

"In previous years I was probably 30 per cent footy and 70 per cent enjoying my time with my mates and family and not too worried about footy," Didak said.

"But now it's probably the other way around. I really am at a stage where I want to be a full-time footballer, I've worked hard on a few areas and it's starting to pay off."

Dane Swan and Alan Didak have been sensationally backed to win the Brownlow Medal in recent weeks, with bookmakers now rating both players among the top half-dozen chances to win football's top award.

TAB Sportsbet's Gary Davies said while Geelong's Gary Ablett remained outright favourite at $3, the weight of support for the Collingwood pair meant the star Cat's price had eased.

Carlton champ Chris Judd is second pick at $3.50 and his price remained steady after a solid performance against Richmond at the weekend.

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse says the form of Brad Dick and Alan Didak is keeping Paul Medhurst out of the side.

"He's not replacing players who play in a similar position because there's no automatic selection for anyone. When his form is better than those around him and there's an availability... he gets into the side," Malthouse said.

"We're not going to accommodate him by saying 'well one's more experienced than the other or one's better than the other."

"A player from the Daicos era said he had played with Daicos and watched Didak closely. He says Didak is better," Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse was quoted as saying.

Former Magpie Peter Daicos says he is unperturbed by the comments.

"The only thing I would ask is did Mick Malthouse make comparisons between any other players he selected? It would seem strange he only did it with me and Alan Didak," Daicos said.

"I guess you would need to speak with Mick. People did raise it with me, but I've got to say I don't really care. It's a comment without a name to it."

Alan Didak will miss at least another two matches for Collingwood with a hamstring injury.

Alan Didak and Heath Shaw set to return after club-imposed suspensions ruled them out for last six games in 2008.

Harry O'Brien says Heath Shaw and Alan Didak have done enough over the AFL off-season to earn back the players' respect.

Alan Didak and Heath Shaw will be trying for the rest of their careers to earn back the respect of teammates, according to Josh Fraser.

Alan Didak and Heath Shaw are suspended for the rest of the 2008 season for lying about their involvement in a car accident.

Rhyce Shaw, brother of Heath Shaw, is also suspended for two matches as he was drinking over the weekend while injured.

"The Collingwood Football Club has suspended both Heath Shaw and Alan Didak for the rest of the 2008 season as a result of the fact they lied to the club about a drink-driving incident that occurred on Sunday night," the Collingwood Football Club said in a statement.

"These suspensions both include the home-and-away portion of the season and potential finals matches.

"As a repeat offender, Alan has been fined $5000 while the original fine to Heath of $10,000 remains.

"As part of the club's further investigations, it was established that Rhyce Shaw, while injured, was drinking over that weekend, and as a result he has been suspended for two matches and fined $5000.

Heath Shaw is arrested for drink driving during the weekend when he is understood to have lost control of his vehicle and driven into parked cars.

His blood alcohol reading at the time is said to have been .144, almost three times the legal limit.

Collingwood have stopped short of suspending Shaw but have decided, instead, to fine him $10,000.

"There is no excuse and we're sick and tired of this behaviour," an angry Eddie Mcguire, president of the Magpies said.

"He's not a five-year-old, he is a grown man and must take responsibility. Mick breaks his neck week in and out and is dragged down by clowns. Enough is enough."

As part of his punishment, Shaw is made to front the media to explain his action where he claims that an unnamed friend was in the passenger seat of his car.

Reports, however, later reveal that friend to be Alan Didak despite both players vehemently denying that was the case before the revelation.

Based on the new reports, Collingwood are forced to review their penalty imposed on Shaw.

"The sanction imposed on Heath by the club on Monday was a result of information stated by both Heath and Alan after being repeatedly questioned about the incident," the Magpies said in a statement.

"Given the club has now found their information to be false, it strikes at the principles of honesty and integrity that the Collingwood Football Club is built on.

"For this reason, the sanction imposed will be immediately reviewed by the club, and media will be notified of a press conference to be held on Tuesday."

Alan Didak commits to a new two-year deal with Collingwood.

Behaviour clauses that had been applied to his existing contract are no longer stipulated in his new contract.

"I feel pretty good. Probably this time last year I thought my career was at the crossroads, so it's good to finally get the deal done," Didak said.

"It's obviously been a long journey, but a good one so far. It takes me to 10 years at the club, and I'll get life membership after that, so exciting times and we're in a good position to be in the finals.

Alan Didak provides a police statement detailing his experience after being offered a lift home from Christopher Wayne Hudson whom he met at the Spearmint Rhino strip club.

"He held the gun in his right hand and showed it to me," Didak said in his statement.

"I didn't know what to do, I didn't want to upset Huddo in any way, so I sort of gave him a half smile to acknowledge the fact that he had the handgun.

"Huddo put down the driver's side window and put his right arm out the window.

"Even though the music was blaring I could hear Huddo firing shots from the handgun.

"I don't remember how many shots Huddo fired, but by this stage I was s----ing myself."

Hudson has pleaded guilty to firing shots from his handgun while in a Mercedez Benz with police in pursuit over the Bolte Bridge.

A Melbourne court was also told yesterday that star Collingwood AFL player Alan Didak would be a key witness in the case against accused killer Christopher Wayne Hudson.

But Mr Hudson's lawyer told the court that Didak's "credibility is very much an issue".