Dani Laidley

DOB

27/3/1967

Height

184 cm

Weight

77 kg

Junior club

West Perth

Arrived

Foundation signing in 1986

Number

15

Debut

Round 1 1987 vs Richmond
(10th Eagles player)

Games

52

Goals

11

B&F Top 10

0

Best Finish

N/A

Last app.

Round 20 1992 vs Brisbane

Departed

Traded to North Melbourne at the end of the 1992 season for pick 8 (Paul Symmons)

Other clubs

West Perth (WAFL) 1986-1992
North Melbourne (AFL) 1993-1997

Originally from Balga, Dani Laidley (known as Dean during her playing days) was a scrawny halfback who played 52 games in six seasons without ever really cementing a regular spot in the side. Not the biggest or most skilful player, Laidley played with an intensity that was almost unrivalled.

West Coast career[]

After playing for West Perth, Laidley made the inaugural West Coast squad and played in the first-ever game just days after celebrating his 20th birthday. Laidley played 10 games in the 1987 season, 11 the following season, including the elimination final against Melbourne, and another 10 in 1989.

1990 started promisingly for Laidley, playing in the first seven matches and picking up Brownlow votes in a couple of them. Unfortunately in round 7 against Melbourne Laidley suffered a blown-out knee, resulting in missing more than a year of footy. In fact Laidley didn’t play AFL again until early 1992, almost two years later.

Laidley played 14 games in 1992 but was dropped before the finals and couldn’t find a way back in. At the end of the season, a frustrated Laidley sought a trade to North Melbourne. The Roos gave up a top 10 pick in return, which was used on 99-game player Paul Symmons.

North Melbourne career[]

Coincidentally, Laidley played 99 games for North, winning a well-deserved flag in 1996 before retiring after the 1997 season.

Post-VFL/AFL career[]

Laidley then moved into coaching, linking up with former coach Mick Malthouse at Collingwood before moving back to North Melbourne to take the senior job in 2003. Laidley coached the Kangas for six and a half seasons before stepping down midway through 2009.

Since giving up the top job at Arden Street Laidley took assistant roles at Port Adelaide (commuting from Victoria) and at St Kilda under former teammate Scott Watters. In 2014 Laidley reunited with Malthouse at Carlton, spending two years with the Blues.

Laidley commenced a gender transition in late 2019, and is now known as Dani Laidley.

Stats[]

AFL	Gm	G	B	K	M	H	D	T	WAFL	Gm	G
1987	10	2	5	119	37	24	143	6	WP	1	1
1988	11	6	4	139	44	29	168	11		4	6
1989	10	0	3	116	40	60	176	15		1	2
1990	7	1	0	93	23	45	138	1		0
1991	0									12	0
1992	14	2	5	158	30	90	248	13		5	1
Tot	52	11	17	625	174	248	873	46
Avg		0.2		12.0	3.4	4.8	16.8	0.9