Dean Laidley
Encyclopedia
Dean Laidley is a former Australian rules football
er who played for the West Coast Eagles
and North Melbourne
in the Australian Football League
(AFL) from 1987 to 1997, including in North Melbourne's 1996 premiership
side. He served as coach of North Melbourne
from 2003 to 2009. He is currently an assistant coach at the St Kilda Football Club.
.
Lightly built and not considered a player blessed with the highest degree of natural talent, Laidley first played senior football at the West Perth Football Club
and was recruited to be part of the West Coast Eagles
' inaugural VFL
squad in 1987.
in Round 1, 1987 against the Richmond Tigers at Subiaco Oval
.
As an aggressive half-back line player and known as "The Junkyard Dog", Laidley was known for his commitment to the contest and to winning the ball.
His career had a major setback during the 1990 season when he required a knee reconstruction and found it hard to break into the team, missing West Coast's 1992 premiership win.
. A trademark of his play was the execution of the strategy of either kicking out or receiving uncontested a short kick-out to the back pocket
, a strategy which was later widely adopted by other clubs.
Laidley did eventually win a premiership, in 1996 with the Kangaroos. He retired at the end of the 1997 season.
competition.
His first AFL coaching role was with Collingwood
as an assistant coach under Mick Malthouse
, where he was involved in the club's 2002 AFL Grand Final
loss.
after the resignation of Denis Pagan
as coach. Laidley eventually was employed as the new senior coach of the Kangaroos for the 2003 season. In his first year as the Kangaroos' coach the team finished 10th at the end of the 2003 season and again in the 2004 season. He took the Kangaroos to the finals for his first time as coach in the 2005 season but they were eliminated by Port Adelaide in an elimination final. In the 2006 season they fell backwards and finished 14th.
Laidley's ferocity as a player transferred into his coaching style, his team is said to embody the "Shinboner Spirit" of determination and never giving up. He is also seen on occasion to be aggressive with his players.
Laidley's vision at the Kangaroos is ensuring the club's survival and financial viability, therefore he is attempting to make sure they stay within the finals and don't perform a complete "bottoming-out" style rebuilding phase in the vein of Carlton. This approach is to ensure the Kangaroos retain membership by consistently making the finals (although not necessarily being strong enough to challenge for a premiership). Some players recruited under this approach include so-called "recycled players" Kasey Green
, Jonathan Hay and Jade Rawlings
.
In June 2007 in a post-victory press conference Dean Laidley advised that he had heard of a family bereavement during the match, in a comment explaining his demeanor at what should be a victorious press conference.
Laidley took North Melbourne to the finals for his second time in 2007 and at the end of 2007. His contract was due for renewal at the end of the season and the Melbourne Football Club
made advances to secure him as coach, however Laidley's contract with North Melbourne was renewed for two years.
He took North Melbourne to the finals again in 2008.
After a post season review in 2009 and following a string of losses, Laidley resigned as coach of North Melbourne on 16 June 2009, one round before his 150th game as coach.
.
After one season of being an assisant to Mark Williams
and later Matthew Primus
, Laidley announced that he would return to Melbourne in 2011 for family reasons but said that he could work as an opposition scout and analysis based in Melbourne for the Power. However, on 27 October 2010, the Port Adelaide Football Club announced that he would continue on as an assistant coach based four days in Adelaide and three days in Melbourne a week in the 2011 season. He interviewed for the Essendon Football Club
senior coach position when it was left vacant by the sacking of Matthew Knights
but was unsuccessful.
. The man's family stated the death was unrelated to the incident with Laidley.
In 2007, former Kangaroos' star Wayne Carey criticised Laidley and argued that another former team-mate, John Longmire
, should replace him as coach. Laidley's contract was due for renewal at the end of 2007. After a forthright response by Laidley that referenced Carey's personal scandals, Carey responded by describing him as arrogant. On 16 June 2009, Laidley stepped down as coach explaining that he felt he could not take the group any further.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
and North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL) from 1987 to 1997, including in North Melbourne's 1996 premiership
1996 AFL Grand Final
The 1996 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the North Melbourne Football Club and Sydney Swans, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 28 September 1996. It was the 100th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football...
side. He served as coach of North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
from 2003 to 2009. He is currently an assistant coach at the St Kilda Football Club.
Early life
Laidley grew up in Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Lightly built and not considered a player blessed with the highest degree of natural talent, Laidley first played senior football at the West Perth Football Club
West Perth Football Club
The West Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Falcons, is an Australian rules football club located in Joondalup, Western Australia, competing in the West Australian Football League . It is the oldest existing Australian rules football club in Western Australia. It competes in the West Australian...
and was recruited to be part of the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
' inaugural VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
squad in 1987.
West Coast career (1987–1992)
Laidley made his VFL debut for the West Coast EaglesWest Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
in Round 1, 1987 against the Richmond Tigers at Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
.
As an aggressive half-back line player and known as "The Junkyard Dog", Laidley was known for his commitment to the contest and to winning the ball.
His career had a major setback during the 1990 season when he required a knee reconstruction and found it hard to break into the team, missing West Coast's 1992 premiership win.
North Melbourne career (1993–1997)
At the end of 1992 he was traded to North MelbourneKangaroos Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
. A trademark of his play was the execution of the strategy of either kicking out or receiving uncontested a short kick-out to the back pocket
Back pocket
In Australian rules football, the back pocket refers to a position on the field deep in defence.Back pocket players, situated in the backline, need to have good spoiling skills and usually, quality back-pockets are noted for their hardness....
, a strategy which was later widely adopted by other clubs.
Laidley did eventually win a premiership, in 1996 with the Kangaroos. He retired at the end of the 1997 season.
Early career (1998–2002)
Following his AFL career, Laidley took up coaching, beginning with the Weston Creek team in the AFL CanberraAFL Canberra
AFL Canberra is the governing body for Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory.In November 2010 the five AFL Canberra Premier Division clubs merged with the Premier Division clubs of the Queensland Australian Football League to form the North East Australian Football League...
competition.
His first AFL coaching role was with Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
as an assistant coach under Mick Malthouse
Mick Malthouse
Michael "Mick" Malthouse is a former Australian rules footballer and the former coach of the Collingwood Football Club.While his playing career included a premiership for Richmond in the VFL, he is best known for his Australian Football League coaching career.Malthouse is the most successful coach...
, where he was involved in the club's 2002 AFL Grand Final
2002 AFL Grand Final
The 2002 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Brisbane Lions and the Collingwood Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 28 September 2002. It was the 106th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football...
loss.
North Melbourne career (2003–2009)
As a former onfield leader with the Kangaroos, Laidley seemed a logical choice as senior coach of the KangaroosKangaroos Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
after the resignation of Denis Pagan
Denis Pagan
Denis Pagan is a former Australian rules football coach and player in the VFL/AFL. He is current coach of Northern Knights in TAC Cup.-Playing career:...
as coach. Laidley eventually was employed as the new senior coach of the Kangaroos for the 2003 season. In his first year as the Kangaroos' coach the team finished 10th at the end of the 2003 season and again in the 2004 season. He took the Kangaroos to the finals for his first time as coach in the 2005 season but they were eliminated by Port Adelaide in an elimination final. In the 2006 season they fell backwards and finished 14th.
Laidley's ferocity as a player transferred into his coaching style, his team is said to embody the "Shinboner Spirit" of determination and never giving up. He is also seen on occasion to be aggressive with his players.
Laidley's vision at the Kangaroos is ensuring the club's survival and financial viability, therefore he is attempting to make sure they stay within the finals and don't perform a complete "bottoming-out" style rebuilding phase in the vein of Carlton. This approach is to ensure the Kangaroos retain membership by consistently making the finals (although not necessarily being strong enough to challenge for a premiership). Some players recruited under this approach include so-called "recycled players" Kasey Green
Kasey Green
Kasey Green is an Australian rules footballer formerly in the Australian Football League, now the current captain of East Fremantle in the Western Australian Football League ....
, Jonathan Hay and Jade Rawlings
Jade Rawlings
Jade Rawlings was the caretaker coach of the Richmond Tigers Football Club, and is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the AFL with the Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs and the North Melbourne Football Clubs....
.
In June 2007 in a post-victory press conference Dean Laidley advised that he had heard of a family bereavement during the match, in a comment explaining his demeanor at what should be a victorious press conference.
Laidley took North Melbourne to the finals for his second time in 2007 and at the end of 2007. His contract was due for renewal at the end of the season and the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
made advances to secure him as coach, however Laidley's contract with North Melbourne was renewed for two years.
He took North Melbourne to the finals again in 2008.
After a post season review in 2009 and following a string of losses, Laidley resigned as coach of North Melbourne on 16 June 2009, one round before his 150th game as coach.
Port Adelaide career (2010–2011)
In September 2009, Laidley joined the coaching group at the Port Adelaide Football ClubPort Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
.
After one season of being an assisant to Mark Williams
Mark M. Williams
Mark "Choco" Williams is a former Australian rules footballer who coached the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League from 1999 to 2010...
and later Matthew Primus
Matthew Primus
Matthew Richard Primus is the current coach of the Port Adelaide Football Club and a former Australian rules footballer, captain and All Australian ruckman.-Early career :...
, Laidley announced that he would return to Melbourne in 2011 for family reasons but said that he could work as an opposition scout and analysis based in Melbourne for the Power. However, on 27 October 2010, the Port Adelaide Football Club announced that he would continue on as an assistant coach based four days in Adelaide and three days in Melbourne a week in the 2011 season. He interviewed for the Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
senior coach position when it was left vacant by the sacking of Matthew Knights
Matthew Knights
Matthew Knights is a former Australian rules football player, having played in the midfield for the Richmond Football Club from 1988 to 2002. He went on to a coaching career, most notably as head coach of the Essendon Football Club from 2008 to 2010...
but was unsuccessful.
St Kilda career (2011–present)
In early November 2011, Laidley was announced as the new midfield coach of the t Kilda Football Club].] Of the move, St Kilda's head of football, Chris Pelchen, said of Laidley: "Dean has a wealth of knowledge as a former player and coach in his own right. His experience will genuinely assist the development of the whole player list at the Saints."Controversies
During a 2006 match against St Kilda, a Kangaroos supporter had a confrontation with Laidley during a period of consistently poor performances. The supporter twice made remarks to which Laidley responded with an honest summation "we are all hurting", later inviting the supporter to the club rooms to see how badly the players were feeling due to their onfield performance. The footage was captured on television and broadcast nationally. The supporter committed suicide later that night in the path of an oncoming train due to a gambling-related depressive illnessDepression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
. The man's family stated the death was unrelated to the incident with Laidley.
In 2007, former Kangaroos' star Wayne Carey criticised Laidley and argued that another former team-mate, John Longmire
John Longmire
John Longmire is the current coach of the Sydney Swans. As a player, he represented the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League from 1988 to 1999.-Early years:...
, should replace him as coach. Laidley's contract was due for renewal at the end of 2007. After a forthright response by Laidley that referenced Carey's personal scandals, Carey responded by describing him as arrogant. On 16 June 2009, Laidley stepped down as coach explaining that he felt he could not take the group any further.