#4 Alan Didak

[Mars II]

Alan Didak
Other Names - Dids, Didsy,
Number - 4
DOB - 15-02-1983
Career Matches - 182
Career Goals - 256
Recruited from - Port Adelaide (SANFL)
Junior clubs - Pooraka (SA)
Height - 184cm
Weight - 85kgs

Awards
National Rising Star nomination 2002
International Rules Series 2004
EW Copeland Trophy (Best and Fairest) 2006
All-Australian 2006 and 2010
2010 Collingwood premiership player
Coventry trophy 2010 (Collingwoods leading goal kicker)
33 Brownlow votes​

 

[Mars II]

Top 25 Croweaters

1. Alan Didak .....................Collingwood
2. Brian Lake .....................Western Bulldogs
3. Adam Cooney .................Western Bulldogs
4. Bryce Gibbs ..................Carlton
5. Corey Enright ................Geelong
6. Matthew Pavlich ...........Fremantle
7. Sam Fisher ....................St Kilda
8. Ryan Griffen ..................Western Bulldogs
9. Shaun Burgoyne ............Hawthorn
10. Bernie Vince ...............Adelaide
11. Heath Grundy ..............Sydney
12. Mark Jamar ................Melbourne
13. Andrew Mackie ...........Geelong
14. Kane Cornes ................Port Adelaide
15. Nathan Bock ................Gold Coast
16. Scott Thompson ..........Adelaide
17. Beau Waters ...............West Coast
18. Jack Trengove .............Melbourne
19. Jordan Russell ............Carlton
20. Travis Varcoe ..............Geelong
21. Danyle Pearce .............Port Adelaide
22. Graham Johncock .......Adelaide
23. Angus Monfries ...........Essendon
24. Dean Brogan ...............Port Adelaide
25. Jason Porplyzia ...........Adelaide

Alan Didak No.1 on list of AFL's best South Australian players


Jesper Fjeldstad ranked his top south Australian footballers for the herald sun yesterday.

 

[Mars II]

In his 10th season at the club, Didak enjoyed a fine year culminating in All-Australian honours. The utility was rotated through the midfield and forward as he tied a personal career best 41 goals for the season, averaged a career-high 2.7 tackles per game and played 24 of a possible 26 matches.

Didak was influential in the club’s finals campaign averaging 21.5 disposals and 1.5 goals in four matches. After the grand final celebrations, it came to light that Didak suffered a serious shoulder injury in the round 21 win against Adelaide and was forced to play through the finals under major duress. The 2006 Copeland Trophy winner had post-season surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ1-8ZlnEyU

 

[Mars II]

Didak: black, white and a Rising Star

It was shaping up as one of those nights for Collingwood last Friday at the MCG.

It was cold and blustery and after a second quarter that was about as entertaining as a doing your tax return. The Magpies had only managed two goals and trailed the beleaguered Tigers by 13 points.

Not good enough, really, for a team with premiership ambitions. Coming off the back of a loss to the Cats, this was crunch time for Collingwood. Now was the moment for some of the young Magpies to spread their wings.

The Pies’ response was an 11 goals to three second half to humiliate the tepid Tigers and to once again defy the cynics who think Mick’s Magpies aren’t ready to take the top perch in September.

Alan Didak was one of the catalysts for The Magpie revival. He chipped in with two goals and had 13 quality possessions on a night when finding the footy and using it wisely was mission impossible for many players. And for his efforts he’s been nominated as this weeks AFL Rising Star.

“It was a tough night,” Didak said. “They (Richmond) hadn’t won in six games and we knew they’d come out hard and we had to as well.”

The young Magpie took a while to warm to the task last Friday and it wasn’t until he’d had a trip to the bench that things really began to happen.

“I started off in the forward line but I really couldn’t get a sniff of the ball. So Mick (Malthouse) took me off and I spoke to him on the phone. When I got back on in the second quarter he put me on the wing and said play your natural game.”

If there’s one thing Mick Malthouse does better than most, it is nurture young talent. Alan Didak was taken at number 3 in the 2000 national Draft behind Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke who were Moorabbin bound. Whilst these young Saints were thrust into battle almost immediately, Didak managed just five games in 2001. The young South Australian was given time to adjust to the demands of senior footy. It was time well spent and Collingwood are now reaping the rewards.

“I knew my first year would be an apprenticeship year with Williamstown (Collingwood’s VFL affiliate). Five games of AFL footy, it wasn’t the best situation. I’m glad I did get those five games but all the same, I learnt a fair bit at Williamstown.”

Alan Didak is a ready-made Magpie. He grew up playing with the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL. He has lived his whole football life in black and white and he said the similarities between the two clubs are striking.

“Both clubs have a similar history and similar expectations that surround them. They’ve both won a lot of premierships and the black and white, what can I say, you can’t go wrong there.”

Collingwood though is a different beast altogether. Alan Didak knew that when he arrived at Jock Mc Hale Stadium that this was big time.

“Just playing on ANZAC day or any of those other blockbuster games the fans just come out in force. Just to see the 80,000 plus supporters at a game is tremendous.”

For Didak the challenge now is to hold his form and book a spot in the Magpie team for September action.

“There’s a healthy rivalry for a place in the team. Look at Heath Scotland. He’s played the last four weeks and he’s been in the best players. Last year he was doing the same for Williamstown and it’s just been a case of making the most of your opportunity.”

“If you get in the team you’d better play well because there is always someone ready to grab your spot. Mick makes everyone aware – it doesn’t matter who you are, if you’re not in good form you’ll go back.”

Mick Malthouse doesn’t settle for less because he knows that’s exactly what it takes to be the very best.

And as Alan Didak has shown in season 2002 he’s a very quick learner.

Looked into the AFL's archives and found this gem written by Francis Leach on 12:00 AM Tue 23 Jul, 2002. Article here

Video
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmEtp2P8Iq0

 

[Mars II]

​

Didak, Hille back for decider

COLLINGWOOD premiership forward Alan Didak and Essendon ruckman David Hille have been named to play their first games for the year in the NAB Cup Grand Final on Friday night at Etihad Stadium.

Didak has not played since last October's Grand Final replay owing to off-season pectoral surgery while Hille has been coming back from a pre-Christmas knee operation.

The Magpies have named defender Tyson Goldsack - who has played in the past two VFL practice matches as he builds fitness following illness - as an emergency.

The Pies have made a further five changes to the squad they took to Perth last weekend with Chris Tarrant, Luke Ball, Heath Shaw, Leigh Brown and Brent Macaffer all gaining call ups.

Defender Ben Reid has also been named, despite rolling an ankle against West Coast last Saturday night and missing training this week.

Captain Nick Maxwell (internal bleeding) and Tom Hunter (neck) are forced omissions while Ben Sinclair, Alex Fasolo, Shae McNamara and Jye Bolton are being rested.

Sinclair and Tom Young have been named as the other emergencies.

Brad Dick, who is coming back from shoulder surgery, is listed on the Magpies' injury list as one week away from playing.

Meanwhile, the Bombers have included experienced full back Dustin Fletcher - who was rested last week - in their line up.

Henry Slattery leaves the squad with a broken thumb - sustained against St Kilda last week - and is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks.

Midfielder Andrew Welsh remains a notable omission and is listed on the club's website as "currently undergoing medical treatment for an abdominal strain".

Kyle Reimers, Josh Jenkins and Jake Carlisle have been named as the Bombers' emergencies.

written by Jennifer Witham story here

 

[Mars II]

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PpIPhVi548

 

[Mars II]

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li6AXijzIMw

 

[Mars II]

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW8tG1_DeFk

I feel like i let Dids down this year

 

[bushpie]

I would not feel to bad Mars....... All the players have been treated shabbily by us fans here this year in the buddy board.

They have been poorly represented by us all its a crying shame half of em can whine and bitch and moan about everything they perceive to be wrong about players, coaches and the club in general.

But if only they could contribute positively to something that show a lot of promise early on.

Now that would have been something worth following!