Alan Didak - What to expect this year?

[soreplums]

I don't know why people keep saying Didak has lost his pace. Even in the final against West Coast he was putting in fast runs, it's just that none resulted in highlights so nobody took any notice.

The play at 4:20 is an example where he's running next to Swan:
[YOUTUBE]MtXLn3TYnM4[/YOUTUBE]

I miss Leon.

 

[THATSGOLD]

I don't know why people keep saying Didak has lost his pace. Even in the final against West Coast he was putting in fast runs, it's just that none resulted in highlights so nobody took any notice.

The play at 4:20 is an example where he's running next to Swan:
[YOUTUBE]MtXLn3TYnM4[/YOUTUBE]

are you talking about the part where didak and swan are running in tandem three quarter pace up the middle? Mate watch the 2010 prelim! Thats when didak has PACE! He puts meters on his opponents!

 

[loki04]

Stop squibbing every contest would be a good start, he was at an all time high in 2011 for pulling up short.

 

[Ed D]

are you talking about the part where didak and swan are running in tandem three quarter pace up the middle? Mate watch the 2010 prelim! Thats when didak has PACE! He puts meters on his opponents!

Pretty fast for 3/4 pace if you ask me, especially with a player chasing. Either way it was just an example, and he put in more runs over the year particularly towards the end which were fast. Anyway I said it before but I get the feeling that anyone who writes off Didak will have egg on their face at the end of the year.

 

[sloth6]

i have high expectations of Dids this year - to regain the swagger, confidence and cockiness. I want him to really concentrate on his defensive work up forward, with the odd midfield minutes.

seasons avgs statistically - 21games, 20 touches, 1.5 goals, 3 tackles and 7 contested possessions - seems doable!

His defensive work shouldn't be what Buckley or Dids himself concentrates on, it's getting shots on goal. Without question he is our best finisher, get the ball in his hands more often and have him hitting the scoreboard more regularly is the focus IM.

Pretty simple stuff.

Saw him on the track prior to Christmas, looked fit and enthusiam was great. Expect a big year from Dids.

 

[MarkT2]

I hope:
1. Didak is back to his best, or;
2. Failing 1. the selectors drop him and retire him at the end of the year.

A fit and in form Didak would be a real asset and go a long way to making up any gap between us and Geelong and maintaining any between us and Hawthorn etc. Unfortunately Didak is an all or nothing player and carrying him last year cost us. He just doesn't do the hard things when the chips are down.

I think he'll have a good year myself but if his form isn't right I hope he is dropped pretty quickly and until he finds real form.

 

[4#Didak#4]

With Dids it will all depend on his body. At 100% fitness he is in our best 22 as a small forward. His days in the midfield are gone. If he can't hold fitness he will struggle again.

He is our most dangerous small player in & around the forward 50. He requires a good player to shut him down. Its not just his goal kicking ability its his goal assists & use of the ball. He doesn't need 20 touches to do damage. Any opposition coach would be much happier seeing that Alan Didak is not in the line up as he is a match winner.

I would like to see Krak spend more time up the ground and in the stoppages as his clearance work is sensational.

 

[THATSGOLD]

I hope:
1. Didak is back to his best, or;
2. Failing 1. the selectors drop him and retire him at the end of the year.

A fit and in form Didak would be a real asset and go a long way to making up any gap between us and Geelong and maintaining any between us and Hawthorn etc. Unfortunately Didak is an all or nothing player and carrying him last year cost us. He just doesn't do the hard things when the chips are down.

I think he'll have a good year myself but if his form isn't right I hope he is dropped pretty quickly and until he finds real form.

agreed.
He was very lucky to get a Grand Final birth. I hope we don't carry him through the season like we did in 2011. If he is back to his best fair enough, but playing him based on his reputation will be a mistake. If he is just labouring by the midway through 2012 i hope Bucks pulls the trigger and gives someone else a chance.

 

[Smokeyr67]

This article may be of interest http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/alan-didak-fighting-fit-for-pre-season-games/story-e6frf9jf-1226260017582

 

[Quicky]

We will pick sides according to the four-week plan

Thats an interesting quote. I wonder if thats the timeline they use throughout the season? Plan things in four week cycles and revisit. Monthly goals for the side and player management rotating around that cycle.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Apparently he's had a pretty good summer.

Even a Didak at 80% of his former self is still a damn amazing player.

 

[lgarth80]

Love the thoughts on Thomas moving forward in this thread. Very funny as many thought he wasn't that great at high half forward a few years back. He is the best natural wingman I have seen since Mainwaring. Leave him there and enjoy.

Didak needs to get on his bike and lead if he plays forward. Critical if he plays there often, he needs to get hit up at about 40 from goal, and either wheel around or kick a nice long set shot.

What he can't do is play deep like he did against Scarlett, and try to win marking contests. Just won't work.

But if he leads and presents, and works very hard on his sprints, and his sure hands, I can see a lot of goals this year. In addition, he needs to find his crumbing ability once again - in his day he was amazing, but this last year Blair went past him.

I think the ultimate we can hope for with Didak is for him to "do a Daicos" - to be a damaging forward late in his career. Thing is I've always thought Didak is a very good player but Daicos was like Didak's left on both feet. One of the very best we have ever had.

I'm not sure about Didak's role in our team, but if our midfield is as strong as it was last season (or more so with involvement from Beams/Sidebottom) then I can see Didak nailing 40-50 goals again this year as a leading forward who also looks to crumb off Dawes and hit the scoreboard from about 30 metres out right in front.

 

[robertg22]

Good to hear Didak's back on track, he is a vital player for us. I don't like the idea of moving Thomas more to a forward role, he's an out and out line breaker now in the middle and that's where he stays. Dids on a HFF rotating on the wing is a major weapon and something that's definitely going to help us be successful this year. After all he is still just 28 years old and has just had the one down year. Some people I talk to are completely writing him off which is ridiculous given what he has done for us over an extended period of time.