No Penalty for didak

[magpies42]

Poor form by the pies, bad example set for our young list!
It will be interesting to see how didak reply's on the field!

COLLINGWOOD forward Alan Didak has avoided any club or AFL penalty for his involvement with Christopher Wayne Hudson, the man accused of the deadly city shootings on June 18.

But Magpies CEO Gary Pert said at a media conference on Friday that Didak had been "put on notice" about his behaviour, and had agreed to strict new conditions on his off-field activities that were designed to keep him out of high-risk situations.

Pert warned that Didak faced "clear consequences", including termination of his contract, if he failed to abide by the new conditions.

He said Collingwood had determined that Didak had breached neither the club's code of conduct nor the law in his involvement with Hudson.

Didak told police on Thursday he had been drinking heavily at the Spearmint Rhino club in King St, Melbourne, on June 12 when Hudson offered him a lift home.

Hudson had then insisted that Didak accompany him to a biker gang clubhouse.

Collingwood said on Thursday that Didak had stayed briefly at the clubhouse before insisting he wanted to go home.

He was then driven in away in the back seat of a coupe, with two other people in the front.

"Alan observed erratic and dangerous driving and was desperate to be let out," a club statement said.

"Eventually Alan was let out near the city and made his way home by taxi."

It is alleged that later on the night Didak left the club with Hudson, the accused gunman fired shots near police in the northern suburb of Campbellfield.

Pert said Didak was aware that his failure to report the incident to the club had compromised its ability to handle the situation "in the best interests of everybody.

"Alan is also very clear and has accepted responsibility for making a series of very poor decisions that ultimately put him at great risk and has consequently damaged the club's reputation and his reputation in the eyes of many people."

The new stipulations on his behaviour represented "a turning point in his (Didak's) career in either direction," Pert said. The club had "drawn a line in the sand".

"While Alan has not breached any laws or rules of the club, he has put in question his ability to make reasonable decisions, and therefore the specific rules of conduct we will be putting in place will remove any grey areas for Alan."

Didak would receive counselling on his behaviour while drinking alcohol, Pert said, and the club's code of conduct would be rewritten.

A clause would be added demanding that players immediately notify the club of any incident that might damage the club's reputation.

Pert said Didak would play against Hawthorn on Sunday, although last year's Copeland Trophy winner had been "really upset and thrown" by the incident and its aftermath.

 

[The Procrastinator]

common sense prevails

 

[WakeUpPies]

why? he was a witness, he went partying during the split round holidays, why is that a disgrace?

 

[magpies42]

why? he was a witness, he went partying during the split round holidays, why is that a disgrace?

given that cox, davis got suspended for a lot less means there is something not right. i think davis should be pissed off!

 

[Ekulman]

pretty lucky to not be suspended I reckon.
Hopefully nothing like this ever happens again.

 

[WakeUpPies]

given that cox, davis got suspended for a lot less means there is something not right. i think davis should be pissed off!

heres how i see it, davis and co broke the rules because they did what the did after a match and there was still a match next week, while didak went drinking during the split round holiday when players are given a week off, its like getting in trouble for not wearing school uniform on a holiday

 

[Did's Dodgy Knee]

given that cox, davis got suspended for a lot less means there is something not right. i think davis should be pissed off!

Understand that when Davis & co. were suspended, they were in breach of a direct standing order which forbids players to leave the team hotel whilst interstate. According to the interviews at the time, this was the last thing said by MM to the squad before they left the bus at the hotel in Adelaide. Remaining in the hotel lobby and drinking was fine in their eyes.

Though Didak's action were not sensible to say the least, he had not broken any standing orders on the night in question. His inability to call time once he had had his share of drink is of most concern to the club through it's statement. This also coincides with his inability, in such a state, to make a more rational decision. Think of things you would do differently when sober to being drunk.

Out of all of this, I hope that, like Leon, Alan will learn a valuable lesson and prove to himself, his team mates and his supporters, that he can put his head down, with this situation behind him and give his all for the club in our chase for the finals.

 

[The Majestic]

Didak being embarrassed was punishment enough I would suggest.

 

[KissStephanie]

Poor form by the pies

What did the club do that was poor form? The club, and Gary Pert, handled themselves brilliantly.

pretty lucky to not be suspended I reckon.

Why was he lucky? What did he do exactly that violated current team rules? I hear and read many judgemental people saying these words, but none of them have been able to explain why they feel this way.

He didn't break the law. He didn't drink drive. He didn't assault anybody. The players were given permission by the club to go out that night. What exactly did he do that should have resulted in a suspension this time?

 

[MiguelRodriguez]

The bloke is beyond embarrassed and was visibly shaken during that press conference. I wouldn't be surprised if he missed Sunday just so he can get his head together. Enforcing a penalty would have been undeserved and achieved nothing. If he feels right to play on Sunday and it helps HIM move forward then so be it.

 

[WakeUpPies]

the media is ****ing didak's head up, i wish i could contact him in some way and tell him to get his head out of his arse and kick 8 goals and forget about this SINCE HE DID NOTHING WRONG

 

[Magnus the Magpie]

Probably the right decision but brace yourself for the media flak - particularly from the anti-Collingwood brigade and the sanctimonious. Patrick Smith (for one) will be apoplectic!

 

[WakeUpPies]

Probably the right decision but brace yourself for the media flak - particularly from the anti-Collingwood brigade and the sanctimonious. Patrick Smith (for one) will be apoplectic!

god it would be fun to bash them

 

[magpies42]

The fact that he knew he was in the car with a fugitive should have made him realise that maybe he should tell somebody! he could have at least told the club! Just because it isnt in the club rules doesnt mean that he should be let off the hook, there are alot of things that arent prohibited by law but we still abide these informal rules. Its called being curteous and respectful

 

[The Royal Sampler]

There are no grounds to punish Didak, as he hasn't broken any laws or team rules.

That's game, Hendrix.

 

[colin_wood]

It sounds like a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.....; unlucky maybe ?

Although some may ask w.t.f was he doing at a strip club ? Would is GF be happy about that ??

 

[shotta]

To suspend Didak only hurts the team, why would you want one of your good players out. If he must be punished then fine him( the maximum is only $5000). He might deserve a 20 or 30,000 fine but why hurt the team, club, supporters and finals chances.

 

[Jabso]

I think the fact that Didak has already suffered through the massive media coverage this thing is getting and the stress he has gone through was punishment enough.

The strict sanctions place on Didak is no walk in the park though.

 

[Did's Dodgy Knee]

Better than being a handbag after the fact muppet...

 

[goalpie]

Well done Didak. Dont let knob heads win and give them the big finger. A champion always wins.

 

[mdc]

The strict sanctions place on Didak is no walk in the park though.

This is what's interesting to me...From what Pert said I would suggest that the sanctions are far more of a punishment than a suspension. I'm actually a bit puzzled as to why Didak would agree to such conditions other than feeling indebted to the club. Remember, this is not like the Cousins incident where WC could have reasonably terminated his contract, he had done something illegal, and therefore sanctions make sense. If you're Alan Didak, wouldn't you rather cop a 1 match suspension than have your contract under threat after any indiscretion (even one largely beyond his control as this one happened to be)?

I wonder if the AFLPA will have any opinion on this (probably not though). But it's essentially the restructuring of a player's contract mid-term, so I'd imagine it sets a precedent of sorts, considering the club admits he hadn't actually done anything wrong, no?

 

[Did's Dodgy Knee]

pffft...

Did I let the air out of your tyres?

Or are you, like the rest of the world and Geelong supporters, waiting for the other shoe to drop in your neck of the woods?

 

[Didz_is_God_4]

given that cox, davis got suspended for a lot less means there is something not right. i think davis should be pissed off!

Cox, Davis and Co. were given a direct order by the team to stay in the thier hotels whilst interstate. Didak was fresh into a 12 day break between games and had no order not to go out, spot the difference their Ray?

 

[Didz_is_God_4]

Did I let the air out of your tyres?

Or are you, like the rest of the world and Geelong supporters, waiting for the other shoe to drop in your neck of the woods?

Lol and trust me, when it does, everything else will drop with it. The whole damn bundle. Go The Pretenders!

 

[Somebody]

Didak to change club?

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21991650%5E19742,00.html


"However, the starforward will have to sign off on a series of rules in relation tosocial behaviour and has been told any breach would end his contract atCollingwood.
"Simply put, Alan has been put on notice as of today," Pert said firmly.
"Without pre-empting the outcome, it is very likely they would havean immediate and ultimate outcome on the termination of Alan'scontract. Alan is very clear from this meeting it will be a turningpoint in his career, in either direction. "



If these conditions are going to be forever, sounds like a damn good reason for changing clubs. I know if I was Didak, that's what I'd probably be doing when contract runs out. At least I'd be laying it on the line, drop the special conditions for the new contract, or see ya later. REally I don't think he legally would have to wear these "special conditions" until present contract runs out anyway, but the pressure to conform would be enormous.

In the meantime however, it might cut down the drinking and improve his play.