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Fast Facts
Jumper No: 4
Height: 182cm
Weight: 83kg
DOB: 15 February 1983
Recruited From: Port Adelaide (SANFL)
Career Matches: 120
Career Goals: 171 (career matches/goals at the end of the 2007 season)
Career highlights
Copeland Trophy 2006
All-Australian 2006
AFL Rising Star Nominee 2002
International Rules Series 2004
Alan Didak is one of the biggest cult figures to play in the black and white colours for a long time. His arrival to Collingwood even sparked a website called alandidak.com, dedicated solely to Didak. That website has a annual medal presented, called the ‘Didak Medal’, which is given to the best player every year. No surprises to see who wins it each year.
Didak originally played for a team called Pooraka in S.A.A.F.L., before progressing up the ranks. He was then given a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport AFL Academy, where he played in several Under-17 International Rules games against Ireland. He also captained the Australian squad. On top of this, he was also given the captaincy for the South Australian Under 18 team. Theses accolades are potentially an indication of Dids’ leadership abilities, a role he may fulfill at Collingwood in the future.
Collingwood picked him up at number 3 in the 2000 National Draft, where he was considered the best midfielder on offer. Didak came to Collingwood after playing for the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL. He was a ready-made Pie.
Didak made his debut in 2001. Didak, or “Dids”, as the magpie faithful often refer to him. Dids came to Collingwood as a highly touted and skillful footballer, with excellent evasive skills, and an uncanny resemblance in body shape to former Collingwood great, Peter Daicos. This had some touting him as the next Daicos, comments that were made perhaps a little too early in his career. Nevertheless, his long sweeping kicks, and goal sense has made him a favourite in the eyes of Collingwood supporters.
Early career
Alan is of Croatian descent. Didak was a highly-touted junior footballer. He played in the SANFL seniors with Port Adelaide at 17 years of age, and was the captain of the junior side in a series against Ireland. He was drafted by Collingwood in the 2000 AFL Draft with their first pick at number 3. 'Dids' made his AFL debut in his first season at the club against the Kangaroos at the Telstra Dome.
In 2001 he only played 5 games, but it was his second year at the club where he made his stand. A decent midfielder in his junior levels, he was made into a half-forward at Collingwood. He played his first game for the season in Round 4 and had an impact, but the next week he was statless, and his form had a same trend of inconsistency being dropped weeks later, but his performances for Williamstown earned him another go in Round 10. He played every match but one for the rest of the season. He was used sparingly in the forward line and chipped in with 3 goals in each of the Round 13 and 14 clashes, but his match against Hawthorn saw him kick 5 goals. He played in all 3 finals for the club, but didn't have a major impact in those matches, only kicking 2 goals, and didn't kick a goal in the Grand Final against the Brisbane Lions. He earned an AFL Rising Star nomination during the season.
During the 2002 season, when the Basement Jaxx song "Where's Your Head At?" was released, many Collingwood fans sung the song "Where's Your Didak?" at games, which became, and remains, a popular chants at Collingwood matches.
2003 season
Didak played every game in 2003, and kicked 36 goals as a goal-sneak. He kicked 3 goals in a game four times, including in the Grand Final against Brisbane. In spite of this, some concerns remained about his inconsistency.
2004 season
2004 wasn't as convincing as 2003, but he showed more maturity and continued to show glimpses as a senior player. His main problem in the season was his inaccuracy, kicking 21.26 over the year, but he still averaged more than a goal a game, playing 18 games. On ANZAC Day against Essendon he took one of the marks of the year over Essendon player Andrew Welsh.
2005 season
Didak's 2005 season was disrupted by injuries and problems. He had knee surgery during the pre-season, setting him up for his first game on ANZAC Day against Essendon. His injury had an effect upon his performances. He kicked only 3 goals in his first 4 matches back, before having a good run of form, kicking 14 goals in his next 4 games, including 5 goals against Geelong and 4 goals against Hawthorn. Having niggles since the mid-year break, he was suspended in round 14 for 2 matches, and returning from that he injured an ankle. It wasn't too serious the ankle injury, but his next week return lasted only 20 minutes, when Didak suddenly fainted on the ground with an irregular heart beat, and missed the rest of the season through the illness, but was just a precautionary act, and there was no damage done.
2006 season
2006 was Didak's best season to date. He played every game including one final and was awarded a half forward position on the coveted All Australian team. A season highlight came in Round 20 against Port Adelaide, when after a relatively quiet night he kicked the winning goal with less than one minute remaining. He was ultimately rewarded with the Copeland Trophy as the best and fairest Collingwood player for 2006. Didak would kick a career best 41 goals in his 23 games, and would also play his 100th match against Carlton. In the same match he put a controversial bump on former team-mate Heath Scotland.
He suffered a serious knee injury to the ACL in the Elimination Final loss to the Western Bulldogs, had surgery and missed the preseason. But the knee healed quickly and he returned to the side in Round 5 2007, but missed Round 6. An inspirational performance vs Carlton in Round 7 where he kicked the ball over his head under pressure to set up a goal to a teammate.
Personal life
Didak was subject to intense, and possibly unfair, scrutiny by the media in late 2006. A fight with then-girlfriend Cassie Lane was heavily publicised in newspaper The Herald Sun on the front page, leading to widespread dissent that The Sun was lacking credibility. He was also involved in an off-field indiscretion with a taxi driver the evening before the Copeland Trophy. Didak, on crutches, negotiated a fare with a taxi driver, who was demanding a higher price. He was taken away by police, who were passing the area at the time.
In late June 2007, it was revealed Didak had met with Christopher Hudson, the alleged shooter in the 2007 Melbourne CBD shootings days before the shootings took place.
According to a statement read by Collingwood Football Club CEO Gary Pert, Didak had been drinking heavily at the Spearmint Rhino strip club when he was approached by Hudson, who offered a drink and revealed he was a great fan. Hudson offered Didak a lift home and Didak, who was intoxicated, accepted. During the car trip, Didak experienced "dangerous and erratic driving" whilst in the back seat of Hudson's car and began to fear for his life. He was taken to a "biker" clubhouse for a short time and requested to go home. Hudson and his associates dropped Didak off near the city and Didak made his way home by taxi. Hudson is accused of firing shots at a factory, and also at police, from a handgun on the same night in the same car. Didak does not recall hearing any shots because he was heavily intoxicated. He was not charged and was employed only as a witness, describing his experience as "traumatic".
Career Highs
Disposals - 27 v West Coast, 14th Sep 2007
Kicks - 20 v Hawthorn, 3rd Jul 2004
Handballs - 11 v Geelong, 20th May 2006
Marks - 13 v Carlton, 27th Aug 2006
Goals - 5 v Geelong, 3rd Jun 2005
Tackles - 8 v Melbourne, 17th Aug 2007
2007 season highlight
27 disps (18 kicks 9 hballs), 5 tackles and 2 goals in Second Semi-Final 19-pt win over West Coast at Subi
Personal Didak highlight
2003 final at the 'G vs Lions. Mr Alan Didak comes on in the last quarter and kicks 2 match-winning goals.
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