May 05, 2008 12:00am
Magpie Didak in bar dispute
MAGPIE Alan Didak was among a group of AFL players booted out of a Chapel St nightspot at the weekend.
Didak, banned by contract from attending nightclubs since Melbourne's CBD shootings, hit the Prahran party strip on Saturday night.
The Magpie forward arrived at Windsor's HooHaa bar late, with five to 10 others, including star Dale Thomas.
HooHaa manager Simon Tyler confirmed last night the group had been ejected after an argument involving another patron.
"When security said, 'Can you leave?' they left," Mr Tyler said.
Police were not alerted.
The incident followed the team's crushing loss to Hawthorn at the MCG.
Didak, 25, is on a tight leash with the club after his wild ride with accused murderer Christopher Wayne Hudson.
He admitted the Hell's Angel drove him to the gang's Campbellfield clubhouse on June 12.
During that trip, Hudson allegedly fired a gun that he is accused of using to shoot three people - one fatally - in the city centre six days later.
Didak is expected to give evidence at Hudson's trial.
Rather than suspend him, the Magpies imposed a strict set of contract clauses including a 1am curfew, no alcohol, and no nightclubs.
Club spokesman Nick Hulett confirmed yesterday Didak had been at a Chapel St venue, but said there were no plans to reprimand him.
"As far as the club is concerned, there is no issue," Mr Hulett said.
"There was a small group of players out, there was a verbal altercation that did not involve Alan Didak, and once it had been resolved, they left of their own accord.
"They were not ejected."
Mr Hulett said the venue was a restaurant, not a nightclub, and there was no suggestion Didak had been drinking.
"He was at a bar/restaurant," he said.
"There was no trouble that directly involved him, so there is no issue for the club."
Mr Tyler insisted the players had been well-behaved and respectful all night, disputing one witness account that a member of the group had been dancing on a chair.
Another witness told the Herald Sun some members of the group had been throwing ice and causing trouble.
Revellers saw the group arrive at 10.30-11pm and leave about 12.30am.
The argument is thought to have involved a woman and her boyfriend.
Mr Tyler said last night the players - regulars at the bar - left about 12.30am.
"One of their entourage had an argument with someone else there," he said.
"They left peacefully. They were really well-behaved and I'd have them back there."
Mr Tyler said there had been no dancing on chairs.
He said the venue served up to 200 meals a night and had a DJ and a dance floor, but was not a nightclub.
"We're a restaurant/bar. We don't call ourselves a club, but a dance floor does occur."
Didak was in bed asleep when the Herald Sun sought his comment about 3pm.
Last month, Collingwood CEO Gary Pert said Didak had changed for the better with his contract conditions.
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I wonder if the magpies will be as harsh on this repeat offender as they expect Carlton to be on Fev?
My point is that we get so much garbage from Collingwood supporters about Fev, maybe they should sit back and realize one of their own is a serial offender.