COLLINGWOOD forward Alan Didak has put the controversial way his 2008 season ended behind him and is looking forward to round one of next year.

Didak, 25, was suspended for the rest of the season after round 18 along with teammate Heath Shaw, after the two lied about a car accident they were involved in following an alcohol-fuelled afternoon in Kew.

The talented goalkicker has kept a low profile since the incident, which was the latest in a string of off-field transgressions that have plagued his career, but has finally spoken about how he can't wait to return to the field in 2009.

"I don't think too many players enjoy the pre-season, but everyone's got to do it, you've got to get the miles in the legs," said Didak, on CTV on the club's website.
"But the main thing is you've got to be ready for round one, so I'm looking forward to that."

Didak is currently in Arizona on the Magpies' two-week high altitude training camp, which will see the club return to Australia this Wednesday.

The South Australian spoke of his dedication to improving his fitness this pre-season, which inspired an early start to his overseas campaign.

Didak travelled to Boulder in Colorado a week before his teammates arrived in Flagstaff to participate in an extra training program along with Ben Reid and Cameron Wood.

"It's been a pretty tough two-three weeks," he said.

"A lot of long sessions, climbing mountains, down the [Grand] Canyon, personally it's a stepping stone to a good pre-season.

"We went to Boulder for a week and had pretty tough training for a week. We had a good time there and now we're looking forward to going home."

The 2006 Copeland Trophy winner indicated he isn't the only Magpie keen to erase some less favourable off-field incidents by performing next year, and named a pair of his teammates as impressive trainers during the overseas jaunt.

"Surprisingly, Ben Johnson is starting to develop an 'ab' on his belly. He's really taken the next step," Didak said.

"Dane Swan with his recovery from his wrist has just been tremendous and is just showing quality leadership, and all the young boys have stepped up from last year."

Johnson will attempt to reinvigorate his career next year after struggling to hold a senior spot in 2008, while Swan will return to full training in mid January after surgery on the wrist injury he carried for the second half of this season.