COLLINGWOOD has agreed to dump the behavioural restrictions that have accompanied Alan Didak off-field for the past year as part of a lucrative new deal for the 25-year-old star Magpie.

Didak's resurrection at the club has been underlined by Collingwood's faith in the player, with the Magpies to announce that the forward will remain at the club until the end of 2010 in a two-year contract worth more than $800,000.

Didak's negotiations have proved delicate but largely out of the public arena, with both player and club satisfied with a two-year agreement but significantly further apart regarding financial terms. Little more than a year since his involvement with confessed murderer Christopher Hudson — a brief overnight involvement Didak insists was accidental and took place one week before the June 18 Williams Street killing of lawyer Brendan Keilar — Didak is expected to sign his new contract.

The incident led to a curfew and alcohol restrictions placed upon Didak by Collingwood in a separate agreement struck with the club, which was roundly criticised for its decision not to suspend or punish the player.

Since then Didak, according to the club, has remained true to his off-field limitations while his on-field form has gone from strength to strength.

The 2006 Copeland Trophy winner was described last night by Travis Cloke as Collingwood's most outstanding player and a matchwinner as the Magpies prepare for tomorrow night's clash with North Melbourne and continue to push for a place in the top four.

The finishing touches to an announcement, which is expected to take place within days, surrounded the behavioural conditions. Although AFL rules dictated in the most recent collective bargaining agreement prevent separate off-field contract clauses, Didak had agreed to last year's restrictions but had pushed to have the outside additional agreement removed this time around.

Didak's continued consistent form following a serious knee injury has boosted Collingwood's finals hopes this season. The news in May that he would not have to come face-to-face with Hudson in court following the latter's decision to plead guilty to charges including murder, attempted murder and to carrying weapons on the night of his shooting spree with a reportedly drunken Didak proved a massive relief to the player.

Collingwood's football operations boss Geoff Walsh was unavailable for comment last night but it is understood Didak's new deal will be announced via a club release and will not involve a public press conference involving the player.

Didak remains reluctant to revisit the events of last June and appears likely to remain publicly silent on his involvement with Hudson.