The following article was published in the round two edition of the AFL Record.
Alan Didak graciously gives the thumbs up. A Collingwood supporter driving past the Westpac Centre has slowed down on his way into the city to shout “Go Pies” while Didak is taking part in a photo shoot on the banks of Melbourne’s Yarra River. Even when decked out in casual gear - checked shorts, a designer grey T-shirt from his own brand and a pair of thongs - Didak is easily spotted by the Magpie faithful. Even on a sunny, warm Tuesday afternoon, Didak is in the spotlight.
I have met him to talk predominantly about his interests away from football, primarily his involvement in his home-moving supply company Direct Packing Supplies (DPS). It may, as Didak admits, come as a surprise to many that the man who in recent years has attracted his share of headlines - the Magpies suspended him in 2008 for an alcohol-related incident - has long had an eye on the future.
Meet the 27-year-old and it really shouldn’t surprise, for there’s more to him than most would likely think.
Didak became involved in DPS about two years ago when a friend was starting up the company in Adelaide. DPS has since grown to become one of Australia’s largest online box stores, with a focus on making moving out of home simple and stress-free. He says it’s the outlet away from footy he needs.
“Everyone, at some stage, moves out of home or rents a house, so we cater for all that. The idea behind the business is to make anyone’s life, when they are moving or renting, a lot easier,” says Didak, who booted four goals in Collingwood’s impressive opening-round win over the Western Bulldogs last weekend.
“Early days in your career, all you want to do is get a game and you don’t really
think about outside commitments. But now, I don’t think there’s a day that goes by when I don’t think about what I want to do beyond footy.
“I don’t want to get to a stage where I finish footy and I’ve got nothing to do.”
Didak is also moving into the fashion industry, with the star forward and teammate Dane Swan combining to get T-shirt label T.NAM off the ground. He also has ambitions to own a tapas-style restaurant/bar.
In only a few minutes of conversation, it’s clear Didak - the cheeky forward who can rip a game open with his unique skills, ability to read the play and sometimes-ambitious attempts to kick goals - is just as ambitious off the ground.
“If people don’t know me, they probably wouldn’t think that, but those closest to me see I have a drive to succeed inside and outside footy,” Didak says. “I have a lot of mates who are pretty successful, and I think if you surround yourself with those people, then it’s a good environment to be in.”
Didak, however, hasn’t always been linked to good environments. He understands people probably think he’s a “ratbag”. But he laughs when he thinks about it, suggesting that if he had to go around to every person in Australia who held that opinion to tell them that he is, in fact, a “half-decent bloke” who had a lot of good friends, a loving family and goals for the future, it would take him “a million years”.
During our 20-minute conversation in the Westpac Centre cafeteria, Didak is attentive, frank, friendly and outgoing. Just minutes before, while making our way through the maze of offices inside Magpie headquarters, Didak is pleasant enough to throw a couple of questions my way, asking how long I had been with the AFL Record, whether I had been inside the training venue previously, and so on.
Interestingly, without fail, everyone we pass on the walk greets him warmly, as if drawn to his charismatic personality.
Didak admits to having needed a strong support system to help him make the transition to elite-level football: “When I got drafted, if I didn’t have a loving and caring girlfriend and my closest mate move over from Adelaide, then I would have struggled and probably would have gone back.” But now, he understands his role as a senior player, what it takes to succeed - and the influence he can have at the club.
“It’s important in every industry to have different types of people. If everyone were funny and loved having a good time, you would have a lot of fun but probably wouldn’t get anywhere. You need a bit of balance,” says Didak, who has played 159 games since debuting in 2001.
“You need players who enjoy themselves and are serious when they need to be, and you need players who are serious but need to relax a little bit.
“We all get along really well at the club; we’re all friends, we love having a good time and we’re really keen for success - it would mean the world to me, and I mean that, to have success with Collingwood.”
Didak has been close. In 2002 (aged 19) and 2003, he played in the Magpies’ Grand Final losses to the Brisbane Lions.
He assumed the Grand Finals would keep rolling around. Now, as he drives down Punt Road and past the MCG every day on his way to the club from his home in Kew, Didak yearns for another opportunity on the biggest stage, alongside his football mates, for he knows the privileged position he’s in.
“I like being with a group of mates who just love playing footy. You keep fit, you get paid great money to play a team sport and have a kick around. What else would you want?” It’s a good question.
