After successfully overcoming a hamstring injury which forced him to miss five matches in the first half of the season (rounds five to nine), Alan Didak has played an instrumental role in Collingwood’s run of good form.
The 2006 All-Australian registered over 30 possessions for the first time in his career in Round 11 and hit a purple patch with five consecutive weeks collecting 30 plus touches.
Didak has enjoyed career high numbers in several key statistical categories including disposals per game (26.6) and disposal efficiency (75.3%).
The table below compares his 2009 numbers against his 2006 All-Australian year.
| D | D eff % | Goals | Accuracy | I50 | R50 | Clearances | |
| 2009 | 26.6 | 75.3 | 1.2 | 65.5 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 3.1 |
| 2006 | 17.2 | 72.7 | 1.8 | 64.1 | 4.1 | .7 | .9 |
His new role in the midfield has contributed to the 26-year-old averaging 3.1 clearances per match while increasing his workload in the defensive 50 and subsequently tapering off in the forward 50. Last season Didak collected 21% of his possessions in the forward 50 while only 7% in the defensive 50. This season his revitalized work rate and new role has pushed him on the defensive side of the ground resulting in 10% of possessions accumulated in the back 50 and 16% up forward.
If Didak is nominated he will most likely fall in the half forward role and thus will be battling against Mark Lecras (West Coast), Steve Johnson (Geelong) and Paul Chapman (Geelong). Below is a table comparing the four contenders for the side this season.
| Games | Disposals | Marks | Goals | Tackles | I50 | Clearances | D eff% | |
| Didak | 16 | 26.6 | 5.7 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 4.6 | 3.1 | 75.3 |
| Lecras | 20 | 13.6 | 4.0 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 2.1 | .9 | 66.7 |
| Johnson | 16 | 20.6 | 6.5 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 57.1 |
| Chapman | 17 | 27.5 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 76.3 |
The 2009 Four’N Twenty All Australian team will be named on Monday September 14.
Previous "Magpie for All-Australians" has featured Harry O’Brien, Nick Maxwell and Simon Prestigiacomo.
Next week’s “Magpie for All-Australian” will highlight the 2009 efforts of Scott Pendlebury.
