Where is alan didak

Thirty seconds later, he soccered the ball off the ground from 25 metres, and from the restart of play, he took the ball from Jarryd Blair and slotted it through a third from 40 metres. Fans, and even Didak himself, barely had time to draw a breath.

Three weeks later came what would be his trademark shimmy. He goaled against Richmond after using his footwork and evasive skills to baulk two hapless Tigers before closing the deal, as he so often did. It was vintage Didak, and all the more memorable because he was doing it under sufferance. He had badly damaged his pectoral muscle late in the season, but kept playing. Collingwood supporters loved him from the outset. This was never better underlined than when he won the Copeland in — proving his footy credentials once and for all.

He was brilliant that year and was always a menace in the forward Even when his team tapered off he was still a potent force and it was no surprise when he won the best and fairest as well as being named as an All-Australian.

At the end of the season it was found that he had badly damaged a knee which required major surgery, making his performances even more impressive. Both worked hard to regain the respect of their teammates and their club. He had a career-best disposals and kicked Didak put those setbacks behind him to record strong seasons over the period, the high point of which was being part of Collingwood's premiership side.

The Magpies' qualifying final victory over West Coast was Didak's th game. Key Facts. Swan always ignored the edict to arrive for pre-season training in good shape, telling the club: "It's called the off-season, not the pre -pre-season.

Let's just see who's one of the best-on-ground in round one. Nearing the end of one off-season, Swan and Didak started jogging on a Mexican beach when a "knackered" Didak stopped after 50m because he felt like he was running in quicksand. Swan quit 50m further on. They lauded the "incredible" leadership of Maxwell, who often sought Rat Pack perspectives.

Swan: "Maxy would tell us, 'I know what you guys are doing. Just don't influence the young guys. A lowpoint for Didak after a club-imposed suspension in Johnson says that after belting St Kilda in round 16, , the Rat Pack vowed not to drink until season's end.

Swan: "Ben, I find it really hard to believe that we went cold turkey for 10 weeks. Didak: "Nah, we set that rule for everyone else, but kept doing it ourselves.

Didak earned plaudits for his bravery to play the entire finals series with a torn pectoral — "My arm was actually ripped off," he jests — but he's quickly cut back down to size. Swan: "That's nothin' — I got a corky in the first final. Johnson: "And my knee had to be jabbed to train and play. At least you could run, Dids — jeez.

Late in the drawn Grand Final against St Kilda, Johnson was tracking Stephen Milne when a bad bounce denied the Saints goalsneak a potentially matchwinning goal. Johnson insists: "The first bounce was worse than the second one. Johnson: "I pictured it too, mate — I would've walked straight off. Johnson: "Hey, come on, I was in the back 50 one-out for five minutes. How about one of you blokes dropping back? Me, Maxy and Heath saved you boys. After their big win the next week in the Grand Final replay, the players left for overseas trips on the Tuesday, but Swan wishes they'd spent a week celebrating around Melbourne first.

There was greater lament the next year when Collingwood dominated the minor rounds but lost the Grand Final to Geelong. Tarrant had returned to the Pies after four years with Fremantle. Johnson: "'Taz' went over there and matured and came back a nerd. He really wanted a flag and he even tried to stop us drinking.

Swan: "That was just unacceptable. We were forced to kick him out of the Rat Pack. In , Swan claimed his third successive Copeland Trophy and the next year he won the Brownlow Medal, but insists: "I'd gladly trade all my individual awards for another flag.

But I'd trade the flag if it meant I wasn't going to be lifelong mates with guys from that team. Swan, the last Rat Packer to depart Collingwood, says: "I thought Dids had at least another year and we should've kept Heath, but Johnno was well and truly cooked. Johnson retorts: "You rang me after each training session in tears wanting me to come back. Serious again, Swan says: "It's like we never left each other.

It's a bond that'll never be broken. Johnson: "After footy, not many players keep friendship groups, but we'll be doing this when we're Lions midfielder Cathy Svarc doing plenty of extras in her quest to improve year on…. Watch highlights and full games of this year's top draft prospects in our new series…. Several of this year's draft hopefuls featured in Victoria's under side.

Didak was delisted in a ruthless culling of senior players at Collingwood under Nathan Buckley. If he had signed with the Giants, Didak would have been reunited with close friend and long-time teammate Heath Shaw, who was signed by the Giants in the trade period. The Giants, keen to bolster their young squad with a further experienced player, met with former Geelong champion defender Matthew Scarlett some weeks ago, dangling the possibility of him coming out of retirement to play and assist in coaching - an offer that Scarlett turned down, believed to be for family reasons.

Scarlett has been playing in the Geelong league with South Barwon after his retirement at the end of Didak, who is a former All-Australian and best and fairest at the Magpies, was not on great terms with Buckley this year and spent much of the season playing in the VFL.