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Dean Laidley

Personal Info
Birth	March 27, 1967,
Recruited from	West Perth Football Club (WAFL)
Playing Career¹
Debut	Round ?, 1987, West Coast Eagles vs. ?, at ?
Team(s)	West Coast Eagles (1987-1992) 52 games, 11 goals North Melbourne (1993-1997) 99 games, 4 goals
Coaching Career¹
Team(s)	Kangaroos (2003-) 75 games - 36 wins, 38 losses, 1 draw
¹ Statistics to end of Round 8, 2006 season
Career Highlights
North Melbourne Premiership side 1996

Dean Laidley (born March 27, 1967) is a former Australian rules footballer and currently a coach in the Australian Football League.

Contents 1 Playing career 2 Coaching career 3 Controversies 4 External links

Not considered a player blessed with the highest degree of natural talent, Laidley was recruited from West Perth Football Club and was part of the West Coast Eagles' inaugural AFL squad in 1987. 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 tenacity ensured he always put in 100%. Debuting for the Eagles in 1987, his career went backwards during the 1990 season when he required a knee reconstruction, and he found it hard to break into the team. At the end of 1992 he was traded to North Melbourne after missing out on West Coast's 1992 premiership win. However, Laidley did eventually win a premiership, in 1996 with the Kangaroos. He retired at the end of the 1997 season.

He began as an assistant coach at Collingwood before taking over the reigns from Denis Pagan at the Kangaroos, his old club during his playing days.

Laidley's ferocity as a player has 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 tough 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.

During a game held on May 28, Laidley and a supporter of the Kangaroos had what would be best described as a brief very mild confrontation, after the supporter made a series of provocative remarks towards Laidley as he passed him. The supporter was then reported to have committed suicide soon after. The motive of the suicide is unclear, and no one has suggested that Laidley is even remotely to blame, as the confrontation was quite mild. The family of the supporter has publicly stated that Laidley is not to blame.

• Dean Laidley profile on westcoasteagles.com.au

Preceded by Denis Pagan

North Melbourne Football Club coach 2003-

Succeeded by Incumbent