Collingwood rat pack gathers at wedding of former Magpies star Alan Didak
ONCE there were eight, now just one remains a Magpie. But the members of Collingwood's "rat pack" are still mates.
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IT'S a photo guaranteed to warm every Collingwood fan's heart. Or maybe not.
Six members of the club's 2010 premiership team and two losing grand final Magpies joined in celebration.
But sadly only one of the close clique still remains at the club after the massive purge at the end of last season.
That player, star midfielder Dane Swan, posted the photo of what he called "the rat pack" on Instagram late on Sunday.
The occasion was the occasion of the wedding of Alan Didak, who was axed under coach Nathan Buckley's severe revamping of the club's playing list.
Joining Swan to toast the new groom were the Shaw brothers Heath and Rhyce, Dale Thomas, Sharrod Wellingham, Ben Johnson and Chris Tarrant.
That's some Magpie line-up.
Heath Shaw, Thomas, Wellingham and Johnson were members of the 2010 flag-winning combination, along with Didak and Swan.
Rhyce Shaw and Tarrant played in losing Collingwood Grand Final sides in 2003 and 2011 respectively.
Swan aptly expressed the nostalgia that most Magpie fans would feel on seeing the photo.
The photo caption reads: "The rat pack all back together for Dids' wedding. #goodtimes #memories."
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In June this year Thomas, now at Carlton, denied the infamous "rat pack" was a problem at the club, and refused to confirm its members.
"They were, many years ago when they were a group of mates," Thomas said on radio station Nova 100.
"I am a part of this in the fact that I am a Collingwood player.
"If you know, I don't need to say anything else. You are representing them as if they are some sort of rogue group.
"I'm not going to throw anyone else under the bus."
Didak also took to Twitter to post a photo with his bride. "Just married the girl of my dreams!!" he said.
Just married the girl of my dreams!! pic.twitter.com/8dYXo3a7yH
— Alan Didak (@dids_04) January 5, 2014
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