Alan Didak

Player Stats

Biography

Alan Didak (born 15 February 1983) is a professional Australian rules footballer of Croatian descent playing for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League.

Alan Didak played in the SANFL seniors with Port Adelaide at 17 years of age. He was the captain of the Under 18 Australian International rules football in the junior International Rules Series against Ireland.

Didak was drafted by the Collingwood Football Club with the 3rd pick in the 2000 AFL Draft, and in 2001 he made his AFL debut against the Kangaroos at the Telstra Dome in Round 7; scoring 10 touches and 1 goal. He played five games in total in 2001.

In 2002, Didak earned an AFL Rising Star nomination.

In 2005, Didak's 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. Having niggles since the mid-year break he was suspended in Round 14 for two matches and returning from that he injured an ankle. The next week he returned he lasted only 20 minutes, when he suddenly fainted on the ground with an irregular heart beat.

Didak was awarded the Copeland Trophy as the best and fairest Collingwood player for 2006.

A string of off-field incidents led to Didak being in the public spotlight for the 'wrong reasons' in 2007 and 2008. Didak put those setbacks behind him to record strong seasons over the 2009-2011 period, the high point of which was being part of Collingwood's 2010 premiership side. The Magpies' 2011 qualifying final victory over West Coast was Didak's 200th game.