Alan Didak: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox afl player | firstname = Alan |
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| lastname = Didak |
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| nickname = Di Di Didak |
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| image = image |
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| image name = Alan_didak.jpg |
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| birthdate = {{birth date and age|1983|2|15}} |
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| birthplace = [[South Australia]] |
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| originalteam = [[Port Adelaide Magpies|Port Adelaide]] (SANFL) |
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| heightweight = 182cm / 84kg |
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| dead = alive |
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| deathdate = |
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| deathplace = |
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| debutdate = [[May 13]], [[2001]] |
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| debutteam = [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] |
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| debutopponent = [[North Melbourne Football Club|Kangaroos]] |
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| debutstadium = [[Telstra Dome]] |
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| playingteams = [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] (2001-) |
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120 Games, 171 Goals |
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| coach = notcoach |
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| coachingteams = |
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| statsend = 2007 |
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| careerhighlights = <BR> |
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*[[Copeland Trophy]] 2006 |
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*[[All-Australian]] 2006 |
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*[[AFL Rising Star]] Nominee 2002 |
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*[[International Rules]] Series 2004 |
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}} |
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'''Alan Didak''' (born [[February 15]], [[1983]]) is an [[Australian rules football]]er in the [[Australian Football League]]. |
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Alan Didak was a highly-touted junior footballer. He played in the [[SANFL]] seniors with [[Port Adelaide Magpies|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 Football Club|Collingwood]] in the [[2000 AFL Draft]] with their first pick at number 3. 'Dids' made his [[Australian Football League|AFL]] debut in his first season at the club against the [[North Melbourne Football Club|Kangaroos]] at the [[Telstra Dome]]. |
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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 Seagulls|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 Football Club|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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 Football Club|Essendon]] he took one of the marks of the year over Essendon player [[Andrew Welsh]]. |
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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 Football Club|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 Football Club|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. |
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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]]. |
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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. He would make numerous exciting attempts at goal with brilliant soccer-like footwork late in the season. |
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In 2008, Didak has made a stellar start, playing mostly as a back up wingman or onballer, but mostly a half forward flanker, he is leading the league in kicks up to round 8. He is currently averaging 21 disposals per game, at 18 kicks and 3 handballs, he is also averaging 6 marks and 1 goal. |
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In the round 5 loss to North Melbourne, he had a career high 29 disposals, 23 of them kicks. Apart from being one of Collingwood's and the leagues most improved midfielders, he has also drifted forward to kick 11.9 up to round 8. |
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== Personal life == |
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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. |
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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. <ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/pies-star-quizzed-on-shooting/2007/06/28/1182624084999.html Magpie star regrets night out with accused CBD killer - National - theage.com.au<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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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". |
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== References == |
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{{reflist|1}} |
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{{Refimprove|date=September 2007}} |
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== External links == |
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*{{Collplayer|ref=13179}} |
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*{{AflRleague|ref=A/Alan_Didak.html}} |
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{{start box}} |
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{{succession box|title=[[Copeland Trophy]] winner|before=[[James Clement]]|after=[[Travis Cloke]]|years=2006}} |
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{{end box}} |
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{{Collingwood player squad}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Didak, Alan}} |
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[[Category:1983 births]] |
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[[Category:Collingwood Magpies players]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Copeland Trophy winners]] |
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[[Category:All-Australians]] |
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[[Category:Croatian Australians]] |
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Revision as of 07:15, 29 May 2008
is gay