The 24-year-old forward has made and excellent recovery from knee surgery after suffering a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament towards the end of 2006, and will add considerable potency to the Magpies’ attack.
Didak replaces Paul Licuria, who will miss two to three matches with a hamstring injury, while versatile ruckman Chris Bryan comes in for his first game for Collingwood, replacing Guy Richards.
Bryan, 25, was taken by Collingwood with the eighth overall pick in the 2006 pre-season draft, after playing 16 games in two seasons with Carlton. He possesses a booming left-foot kick and excellent mobility, and will back-up number one ruckman Josh Fraser.
Dale Thomas, Scott Burns and Simon Prestigiacomo, who all suffered slight injuries in the Port Adelaide game on the weekend, have all been passed fit to play after training strongly on Tuesday.
Forward Paul Medhurst will miss one more match with a slight ankle problem.
ESSENDON v COLLINGWOOD
Wednesday, 2.40pm AEST, MCG
COLLINGWOOD
B: Lockyer, Prestigiacomo, Cox
HB: H.Shaw, Clement, R.Shaw
C: Pendlebury, Toovey, Thomas
HF: Maxwell, Cloke, Didak
F: Swan, Rocca, Johnson
Foll: Fraser, O’Bree, Dick
IC: Bryan, O’Brien, Burns, Davis
Emg: Richards, Egan, Iles
In: Alan Didak, Chris Bryan
Out: Paul Licuria (hamstring), Guy Richards
New: Chris Bryan – 2006 Pre-Season Draft, pick 8 overall. (Carlton / Frankston)
ESSENDON
B: McVeigh, Michael, Slattery
HB: McPhee, Fletcher, Ryder
C: Dyson, Stanton, Heffernan
HF: Johnson, Lucas, Hird
F: Davey, Lloyd, Monfries
FOLL: Laycock, Peverill, Lovett
IC: Bradley, Bolton, Johns, Watson
Emg: Houli, Jetta, Lonergan
In: Kepler Bradley, Mark Bolton
Out: David Hille (inj), Leroy Jetta
CLICK HERE TO READ THE EXCLUSIVE COLLINGWOODFC.COM.AU MATCH PREVIEW
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PIE NIGHT ANZAC DAY PREVIEW - FREE - ON MAGPIE RADIO
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PIE NIGHT ANZAC DAY PREVIEW - FREE - ON MAGPIE RADIO
